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

July 12, 1944 Mission to Chiavari Railroad Bridge

Squadron War Diary

340th HQ Diary Foiled by smoke screen over the Ferrara Railroad bridge the first mission went to its alternate, the Zoagli Railroad bridge with satisfactory results.. The second mission met with excellent results over the Ferrara Road bridge. On this mission a photo ship lagging behind the formation was jumped by at least 12 Enemy fighters. The ship escaped unscathed but the gunners [Harold E. Winjum & Wallace E. MacRitche] have to their credit one destroyed and one probable. This same ship in the afternoon mission over Ferrara Railroad bridge, a repeat of the morning's mission, incurred motor trouble and was ditched out at sea on route home. [The author being somewhat removed from events got some details wrong. See Addendum at end of this Diary for more details on this incident.] The two gunners, the same gunners on the morning mission misunderstanding instructions bailed out rather than wait for ditching. Their chutes were seen to open and the men were seen to be afloat, but the men could not be later found by Air Sea Rescue who, through mistake, had been notified of this after considerable delay. The remaining five crew men however utilizing the dinghy were safely picked up....
[The author of this War Diary in describing the tragic events relating to the German fighter attack on the photographic ship and the loss of ship 9B, the Legal Eagle did not have all of the facts straight. The following information and photographs were provided by Burton Blume, son of Lt. Wilbur T. Blume of the 9th Combat Camera Unit. In the early hours of July 12th the 489th Squadron was directed to fly a bombing mission against the railroad bridge in Ferrara, Italy. It was known to be a 'hot' target, well defended by German guns. A ship called "Flack Fodder II" was specially equipped as a camera ship and was to follow behind the other bombers to photograph the target after the formation's bombs were dropped.

The bomber formations encountered a flight of about 16 German fighter planes. A group of six or eight fighters broke away to attack the lone camera ship that was trailing far behind the tight bomber formations. The gunners aboard the Flak Fodder acquitted themselves well. One German fighter plane was confirmed shot down and a second was judged a 'probable.'

Later that same day Sgt. Winjum and Sgt. Hertel were assigned another mission this time to hit the railroad bridge at Chiavari, Italy. Sgt. Yohe was not on the afternoon flight nor were any of the other crew of the Flak Fodder. When 9B, the Legal Eagle, developed engine trouble and had to ditch in the sea, Sgt. Harold Winjum and Sgt. Wallace E. MacRitchie apparently misunderstood the pilot's instructions and parachuted from the aircraft. The crew who stayed with the aircraft when it ditched were rescued. Neither Winjum nor MacRitchie were ever found.]

486th Not assigned to this mission.

487th Not assigned to this mission.

488th Not assigned to this mission.

489th In the afternoon eighteen planes from the squadron flew to the Venice area of Italy to strike at a railroad bridge at Chiavari. Possible hits were made on the bridge.

Shortly before reaching the target, Lt. Mitchell's plane developed left engine trouble. He proceeded to the target and the bombardier dropped the bombs. Just after turning off the bomb run, the right engine failed. The left engine continued to miss badly, finally making it necessary for the pilot to ditch the plane at sea.

Five members of the crew of seven got out before the plane sank. They climbed into their raft which the plane carried and undoubtedly will be picked up by the Air Sea Rescue Command. All of these events leading up to the ditching were observed by the crew of one of our planes which circled the stricken men.

Target in 1944

Target Today

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Squadron	War Diary
340th HQ Diary	Foiled by smoke screen over the Ferrara Railroad bridge the first mission went to its alternate, the Zoagli Railroad bridge with satisfactory results.. The second mission met with excellent results over the Ferrara Road bridge. On this mission a photo ship lagging behind the formation was jumped by at least 12 Enemy fighters. The ship escaped unscathed but the gunners [Harold E. Winjum & Wallace E. MacRitche] have to their credit one destroyed and one probable. This same ship in the afternoon mission over Ferrara Railroad bridge, a repeat of the morning's mission, incurred motor trouble and was ditched out at sea on route home. [The author being somewhat removed from events got some details wrong. See Addendum at end of this Diary for more details on this incident.] The two gunners, the same gunners on the morning mission misunderstanding instructions bailed out rather than wait for ditching. Their chutes were seen to open and the men were seen to be afloat, but the men could not be later found by Air Sea Rescue who, through mistake, had been notified of this after considerable delay. The remaining five crew men however utilizing the dinghy were safely picked up.... [The author of this War Diary in describing the tragic events relating to the German fighter attack on the photographic ship and the loss of ship 9B, the Legal Eagle did not have all of the facts straight. The following information and photographs were provided by Burton Blume, son of Lt. Wilbur T. Blume of the 9th Combat Camera Unit. In the early hours of July 12th the 489th Squadron was directed to fly a bombing mission against the railroad bridge in Ferrara, Italy. It was known to be a 'hot' target, well defended by German guns. A ship called "Flack Fodder II" was specially equipped as a camera ship and was to follow behind the other bombers to photograph the target after the formation's bombs were dropped. The bomber formations encountered a flight of about 16 German fighter planes. A group of six or eight fighters broke away to attack the lone camera ship that was trailing far behind the tight bomber formations. The gunners aboard the Flak Fodder acquitted themselves well. One German fighter plane was confirmed shot down and a second was judged a 'probable.' Later that same day Sgt. Winjum and Sgt. Hertel were assigned another mission this time to hit the railroad bridge at Chiavari, Italy. Sgt. Yohe was not on the afternoon flight nor were any of the other crew of the Flak Fodder. When 9B, the Legal Eagle, developed engine trouble and had to ditch in the sea, Sgt. Harold Winjum and Sgt. Wallace E. MacRitchie apparently misunderstood the pilot's instructions and parachuted from the aircraft. The crew who stayed with the aircraft when it ditched were rescued. Neither Winjum nor MacRitchie were ever found.]
486th	Not assigned to this mission.
487th	Not assigned to this mission.
488th	Not assigned to this mission.
489th	In the afternoon eighteen planes from the squadron flew to the Venice area of Italy to strike at a railroad bridge at Chiavari. Possible hits were made on the bridge. Shortly before reaching the target, Lt. Mitchell's plane developed left engine trouble. He proceeded to the target and the bombardier dropped the bombs. Just after turning off the bomb run, the right engine failed. The left engine continued to miss badly, finally making it necessary for the pilot to ditch the plane at sea. Five members of the crew of seven got out before the plane sank. They climbed into their raft which the plane carried and undoubtedly will be picked up by the Air Sea Rescue Command. All of these events leading up to the ditching were observed by the crew of one of our planes which circled the stricken men.

Crew Lists and Mission Reports

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