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

February 5, 1945 Mission to Calliano Railroad Bridges

Squadron War Diary

340th HQ Diary No entry for this date.

486th Today a bursting star. A star with seven points; points of valor and duty and courage. Today seven men went down in a flak killed ship and tonight seven empty bunks bring lumps to men's throats. Lt. Ross and his crew on an operational mission over the Brenner Pass attacked gun positions so that the main flights could bomb accurately and they did -- The mission was recorded as 100% accurate. We hope the reports of one chute seen means at least one chute. And so it is again proven; where the Yanks are duty placed, they rise to the task like men.

487th Twelve bombers of the Squadron were over Calliano railroad bridge #5 again this morning. Originally there were chaff and phosphorus elements, but when the target was changed to Calliano these ships were eliminated. Observations had both boxes in the center of the bridge, but photographs showed only fifty percent hits. Anti-aircraft fire was accurate over the target holing two ships in the formation, although no injury to crew members was incurred.

488th Mission to Calliano rail bridge #3, Italy. Good results resulting in 100% bombing accuracy for us.

489th There is nothing particularly worthy of record.

Target in 1945

Target Today

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Squadron	War Diary
340th HQ Diary	No entry for this date.
486th	Today a bursting star. A star with seven points; points of valor and duty and courage. Today seven men went down in a flak killed ship and tonight seven empty bunks bring lumps to men's throats. Lt. Ross and his crew on an operational mission over the Brenner Pass attacked gun positions so that the main flights could bomb accurately and they did -- The mission was recorded as 100% accurate. We hope the reports of one chute seen means at least one chute. And so it is again proven; where the Yanks are duty placed, they rise to the task like men.
487th	Twelve bombers of the Squadron were over Calliano railroad bridge #5 again this morning. Originally there were chaff and phosphorus elements, but when the target was changed to Calliano these ships were eliminated. Observations had both boxes in the center of the bridge, but photographs showed only fifty percent hits. Anti-aircraft fire was accurate over the target holing two ships in the formation, although no injury to crew members was incurred.
488th	Mission to Calliano rail bridge #3, Italy. Good results resulting in 100% bombing accuracy for us.
489th	There is nothing particularly worthy of record.

Crew Lists and Mission Reports

Crew List 486th Note that the three anti-flak ships, including Lt. Ross's 6M are not listed on this manifest.

Crew List 487th

Crew List 488th

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