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 San Ambrogio Landslide

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 By coincidence the thirteenth accompanied a double misfortune over the Brenner Pass on today's mission. Two ships were seen to go on single engine, but we are very optimistic about the crew's safety. The two ships retained controlled level flight and it is felt they may have landed at an emergency strip in Italy or bailed out. We fervently hope they all are safe.

487th Not assigned to this mission

488th Not assigned to this mission

489th Not assigned to this mission

Author Personal Account

Claudio Mischi The author has written an account of the loss of 6Y, Yankee Doodle Dandy, and 6W Idiot's Delight. The account includes interviews with airmen involved in the incident as well as the Italians on the ground who witnessed the crashes and aided the crewmen.

You may read his account online in the original Italian or in English translation.

La Missione su Sant'Ambrogio, 13 febbraio 1945 (Original Italian)

The Mission to San Ambrogio, 13 February 1945 (English Version)

Target in 1945

Not Available

Target Today

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	By coincidence the thirteenth accompanied a double misfortune over the Brenner Pass on today's mission. Two ships were seen to go on single engine, but we are very optimistic about the crew's safety. The two ships retained controlled level flight and it is felt they may have landed at an emergency strip in Italy or bailed out. We fervently hope they all are safe.
487th	Not assigned to this mission
488th	Not assigned to this mission
489th	Not assigned to this mission

Author	Personal Account
Claudio Mischi	The author has written an account of the loss of 6Y, Yankee Doodle Dandy, and 6W Idiot's Delight. The account includes interviews with airmen involved in the incident as well as the Italians on the ground who witnessed the crashes and aided the crewmen. You may read his account online in the original Italian or in English translation. La Missione su Sant'Ambrogio, 13 febbraio 1945 (Original Italian) The Mission to San Ambrogio, 13 February 1945 (English Version)

Target in 1945
Not Available
Target Today

Crew Lists and Mission Reports

Crew List 486th

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