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

March 20, 1945 Mission to Vipiteno Railroad Bridge

Squadron War Diary

HQ Squadron The group flew its 800th mission yesterday, against the Muhldorf rail bridge in Austria, scoring direct hits on the installation. On two other missions direct hits were scored on Perca rail bridge and the San Michele diversion fill. Today the 488th squadron lost two crews headed by 1st Lt. John P. Wilkerson [Also lost were: Lt. Robert J. Brown, Sgt. Blain J. Thompson, Sgt. Richard Miller] and 1st Lt. Edward V. Mack [Lt. Mack survived. KIA were: Lt. Stanley C. Caniglio, Sgt. Maurice Granger, Sgt. Paul E. Leonneke, Sgt. Edmund C. Racette, Sgt. Zegmund Zawistowski], and the 488th lost 2nd Lt. James E. Jacobs [Lt. Jacobs, Sgt. Melvin E. Kelly and Sgt. Jack B. Willingham survived as POW. Lt. Hardy D. Narron, Lt. George W. Hammond and Sgt. Medard R. Tafoya were captured and shot by the Germans.] and crew, all over the the Campo bridge targets, where the flak was savage. The north Campo bridge was probably seriously damaged, while a cut was possibly made on the south target. Two other targets were the Vipiteno rail bridge, which was well hit, and the rail bridge at Pizzighettone, where trackage on the approach was cut.

486th The Squadron suffered a major loss today [On the Campo Mission] when 6B failed to return. The crew of six were some of the best liked men in the outfit. They were:
Lt. Mack, Pilot
Lt. Caniglio, Co-Pilot
S/Sgt. Granger, Bombardier
Sgt. Leonneke, Radio-Gunner
Sgt. Racette, Turret Gunner
S/Sgt. Zawistowski, Tail Gunner

The 488th also lost one plane and we had eight men with minor wounds. Spirits are pretty low tonight.

487th Not assigned to this mission.

488th Not assigned to this mission

489th Misfortune struck the Group again. An unofficial total of five aircraft are missing in action, with at least two crews going down over the target area, a rail bridge on the Brenner Pass Line.
As the war draws closer to an end, the Germans are fighting more fiercely than ever. And our Group losses are on the upgrade.

Target in 1945

Target Today

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Squadron	War Diary
HQ Squadron	The group flew its 800th mission yesterday, against the Muhldorf rail bridge in Austria, scoring direct hits on the installation. On two other missions direct hits were scored on Perca rail bridge and the San Michele diversion fill. Today the 488th squadron lost two crews headed by 1st Lt. John P. Wilkerson [Also lost were: Lt. Robert J. Brown, Sgt. Blain J. Thompson, Sgt. Richard Miller] and 1st Lt. Edward V. Mack [Lt. Mack survived. KIA were: Lt. Stanley C. Caniglio, Sgt. Maurice Granger, Sgt. Paul E. Leonneke, Sgt. Edmund C. Racette, Sgt. Zegmund Zawistowski], and the 488th lost 2nd Lt. James E. Jacobs [Lt. Jacobs, Sgt. Melvin E. Kelly and Sgt. Jack B. Willingham survived as POW. Lt. Hardy D. Narron, Lt. George W. Hammond and Sgt. Medard R. Tafoya were captured and shot by the Germans.] and crew, all over the the Campo bridge targets, where the flak was savage. The north Campo bridge was probably seriously damaged, while a cut was possibly made on the south target. Two other targets were the Vipiteno rail bridge, which was well hit, and the rail bridge at Pizzighettone, where trackage on the approach was cut.
486th	The Squadron suffered a major loss today [On the Campo Mission] when 6B failed to return. The crew of six were some of the best liked men in the outfit. They were: Lt. Mack, Pilot Lt. Caniglio, Co-Pilot S/Sgt. Granger, Bombardier Sgt. Leonneke, Radio-Gunner Sgt. Racette, Turret Gunner S/Sgt. Zawistowski, Tail Gunner The 488th also lost one plane and we had eight men with minor wounds. Spirits are pretty low tonight.
487th	Not assigned to this mission.
488th	Not assigned to this mission
489th	Misfortune struck the Group again. An unofficial total of five aircraft are missing in action, with at least two crews going down over the target area, a rail bridge on the Brenner Pass Line. As the war draws closer to an end, the Germans are fighting more fiercely than ever. And our Group losses are on the upgrade.

Crew Lists and Mission Reports

Crew List 486th

Crew List 489th

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