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 13, 1945 Mission to Calcinato Railroad Bridge

Squadron War Diary

Group HQ The group flew an unusual mission today, a bombing attack on the rock overhang above the Brenner railroad near San Ambrogio. The idea of the mission was to jar loose the earth and rock and slide it down over the right-of-way. The mission failed. So did attacks at the same time directed against the San Ambrogio station yard and Calcinato rail bridge. Two planes of the 486th squadron flying in these operations were shot down by flak. They were flown respectively by 1st Lt. Roman H. Figler [Ship 6Y, "Yankee Doodle Dandy." and 1st Lt. Marshall W. Knighton [Ship 6W, "Idiots Delight"]. [Pilots and crews of both aircraft all bailed out and were taken prisoner by the Germans.]

486th Not assigned to this mission

487th San Ambrogio Station was the primary target for fifteen bombers of this Squadron taking-off at 09:00 hours this morning. Chaff and phosphorus ships led the formation into the target and the second box dropped on the primary – their pattern appeared to be immediately east of the center in the yards. The first box bombed the alternate, Calcinato railroad bridge crossing the tracks east of the bridge. Heavy, moderate and very accurate anti-aircraft fire was encountered over both targets, holing three of the participating aircraft. Other squadrons in the formation suffered casualties and severe injuries to personnel so the 487th was really fortunate today.

488th Six planes to Calcinato rail bridge, Italy. Another big miss.

489th Not assigned to this mission

Target in 1945

Target Today

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Squadron	War Diary
Group HQ	The group flew an unusual mission today, a bombing attack on the rock overhang above the Brenner railroad near San Ambrogio. The idea of the mission was to jar loose the earth and rock and slide it down over the right-of-way. The mission failed. So did attacks at the same time directed against the San Ambrogio station yard and Calcinato rail bridge. Two planes of the 486th squadron flying in these operations were shot down by flak. They were flown respectively by 1st Lt. Roman H. Figler [Ship 6Y, "Yankee Doodle Dandy." and 1st Lt. Marshall W. Knighton [Ship 6W, "Idiots Delight"]. [Pilots and crews of both aircraft all bailed out and were taken prisoner by the Germans.]
486th	Not assigned to this mission
487th	San Ambrogio Station was the primary target for fifteen bombers of this Squadron taking-off at 09:00 hours this morning. Chaff and phosphorus ships led the formation into the target and the second box dropped on the primary – their pattern appeared to be immediately east of the center in the yards. The first box bombed the alternate, Calcinato railroad bridge crossing the tracks east of the bridge. Heavy, moderate and very accurate anti-aircraft fire was encountered over both targets, holing three of the participating aircraft. Other squadrons in the formation suffered casualties and severe injuries to personnel so the 487th was really fortunate today.
488th	Six planes to Calcinato rail bridge, Italy. Another big miss.
489th	Not assigned to this mission

Crew Lists and Mission Reports

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