340th Bomb Group History

340th Bombardment Group History

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

Peri Rail Fill

Squadron War Diary

340th HQ Diary Major William Rittenhouse, 489th operations officer, was shot down today by flak with a crew [Sgt. Paul Wheeler was killed. All other crew members parachuted to safety.] over a Brenner line target. Our two missions, to Ossenigo rail fill and the Peri rail fill, met with mediocre success on the first, 100% accuracy in the target area on the second.

486th Not assigned to this mission

487th At 10:10 hours this morning twelve 487th Squadron planes took off to bomb the Peri Corinche railroad Fill and enemy gun positions in Northern Italy. The formation reached the designated area at 12:01 and released their bomb load, but not too successfully. The first box started at river bank and extended across the north end of the Fill. The second box bombed short and to the right of the Fill. Phosphorus element did not drop because flight was slightly south of course and Bombardier could not pick up target in time. Anti-aircraft fire was heavy, moderate and accurate, slightly holing three of our ships. All planes and crews returned safely to the base......

488th Not assigned to this mission

489th Twelve of our crews were briefed to bomb the Peri rail fill, but the mission was destined to be unsuccessful. On the bomb run the lead plane received a direct hit in the left engine, and shortly thereafter the left wing broke off and the plane spun, crashed, and exploded. Five parachutes were seen to open shortly after the plane was hit. Flying as co-pilot was Major Rittenhouse, Operations Officer. Lt. Daniels was piloting the plane, Lt. Lynch was flying as bombardier, Lt. Dunn as navigator, and Sgts. Wheeler, Spencer, and Gilmore as gunners. It was reported by the Germans that his body was found in the planes wreckage.

MACR Report 12905 The lead B-25, 43-35964, Ship 9A known as "Dreamy Time Gal," piloted by 1st Lt. John C. Davis, and co-piloted by the squadron operations officer, Major Rittenhouse, was shot down over the Peri Rail Fill. The plane received two direct hits, one in the left engine and one in the radio compartment, killing Sgt. Paul Wheeler instantly. The rest of the crew bailed out and was taken POW, except the tail gunner Sgt. John Gilmor, who was literally blown out of the back of the plane, parachuted to safety and fought with Italian Partisans for the remainder of the war. They all returned after the surrender. The following crew member was listed KIA:

Sgt. Paul WHEELER (Radio-Gunner)

It was reported by the Germans that his body was found in the plane's wreckage.

Target in 1945

Target Today

Squadron	War Diary
340th HQ Diary	Major William Rittenhouse, 489th operations officer, was shot down today by flak with a crew [Sgt. Paul Wheeler was killed. All other crew members parachuted to safety.] over a Brenner line target. Our two missions, to Ossenigo rail fill and the Peri rail fill, met with mediocre success on the first, 100% accuracy in the target area on the second.
486th	Not assigned to this mission
487th	At 10:10 hours this morning twelve 487th Squadron planes took off to bomb the Peri Corinche railroad Fill and enemy gun positions in Northern Italy. The formation reached the designated area at 12:01 and released their bomb load, but not too successfully. The first box started at river bank and extended across the north end of the Fill. The second box bombed short and to the right of the Fill. Phosphorus element did not drop because flight was slightly south of course and Bombardier could not pick up target in time. Anti-aircraft fire was heavy, moderate and accurate, slightly holing three of our ships. All planes and crews returned safely to the base......
488th	Not assigned to this mission
489th	Twelve of our crews were briefed to bomb the Peri rail fill, but the mission was destined to be unsuccessful. On the bomb run the lead plane received a direct hit in the left engine, and shortly thereafter the left wing broke off and the plane spun, crashed, and exploded. Five parachutes were seen to open shortly after the plane was hit. Flying as co-pilot was Major Rittenhouse, Operations Officer. Lt. Daniels was piloting the plane, Lt. Lynch was flying as bombardier, Lt. Dunn as navigator, and Sgts. Wheeler, Spencer, and Gilmore as gunners. It was reported by the Germans that his body was found in the planes wreckage.

Crew Lists and Mission Reports

487th Squadron


489th 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