340th Bomb Group History

340th Bombardment Group History

340th BG Patch

340th BG Squadron Insignia
	486th B.S.	487th B.S.	488th B.S.	489th B.S.
	Click on the squadron insignia above for links to digitized squadron histories

August 7, 1944 Mission to Lavoulte Railroad Bridge

Squadron War Diary

486th Early mission today - yes, very early - briefing 0620. Target again France to destroy important RR communications. Cancellation of all leaves for 10 days of combat personnel augmented quantity and circulation of rumors and predictions of invasion of S France. Rumors put the invasion within 1 - 2 weeks.

487th Eleven planes of the 487th and one from the 489th comprised the two boxes taking off at 07:35 hours to bomb the Le Voulte bridge at pinpoint N-933809 and N-968775. The first box crossed the bridge with their pattern scoring direct hits which completely destroyed the bridge. Second box had a compact pattern starting short of the center with direct hits on the bridge. The complete southern section of this bridge was knocked out as a result of the bombing. Other squadrons in the formation were severely shelled by anti-aircraft fire although none reached our flight

488th Not assigned to this mission.

489th Not assigned to this mission.

Target in 1944

Target Today

View Larger Map

Squadron	War Diary
486th	Early mission today - yes, very early - briefing 0620. Target again France to destroy important RR communications. Cancellation of all leaves for 10 days of combat personnel augmented quantity and circulation of rumors and predictions of invasion of S France. Rumors put the invasion within 1 - 2 weeks.
487th	Eleven planes of the 487th and one from the 489th comprised the two boxes taking off at 07:35 hours to bomb the Le Voulte bridge at pinpoint N-933809 and N-968775. The first box crossed the bridge with their pattern scoring direct hits which completely destroyed the bridge. Second box had a compact pattern starting short of the center with direct hits on the bridge. The complete southern section of this bridge was knocked out as a result of the bombing. Other squadrons in the formation were severely shelled by anti-aircraft fire although none reached our flight
488th	Not assigned to this mission.
489th	Not assigned to this mission.

Crew Lists and Mission Reports

Operation Orders


486th Squadron

487th Squadron

340th BG Squadron Insignia
	486th B.S.	487th B.S.	488th B.S.	489th B.S.
	Click on the squadron insignia above for links to digitized squadron histories