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 13, 1944 Mission to the Ferrara Railroad Bridge (Mission #223)

Squadron War Diary

486th Same target as yesterday. Opinion of combat officers reflects disagreement on striking some flak-heavy target when alternate cutting points present themselves.....Photo reports are under fire again. Seems men's usual observation does not agree with interpretation and it is disheartening to bombardiers especially when they are not given gredit for bombing where they think they have hit.

487th First mission of twelve ships attacked the Ferrara railroad bridge at 10:33 this morning. The formation encountered flak all along the route and became more intense and accurate as they reached the target area, holing two ships. 2nd Lt. Gerolde was slightly wounded by flak. The north end of the bridge was covered with bombs of the first box and the second box covered the south end. Only three ships went out in the second mission to drop “window” and frags for the following formation which was to again bomb Ferrara railroad bridge. Frag pattern crossed the north approach to railroad bridge intersect. 7N, piloted by Lts. Lovinfosse and Konigsbert, had one engine shot out over the target and in order to get over the mountains enroute to Corsica it was necessary to throw all excess weight out. Guns, radios, parachutes, flak suits and even one pair of shoes were thrown out over enemy territory, but the ship was returned to the base for a successful landing. 7E had the hydraulic system shot out over the target and was also brought in for a safe landing by Lts. Holmes and MacMillen.

488th Two missions today, both to Ferrara rail bridges, Italy. Got 92% and 100%.

489th Not assigned to this mission.

Target in 1944

Target Today

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On the crew list for the 488th Bomb Squadron below, the bombardier
in plane 8X is listed as 2nd Lt. J. Heller. This is Joseph Heller, the
author of the novel Catch-22.

Squadron	War Diary
486th	Same target as yesterday. Opinion of combat officers reflects disagreement on striking some flak-heavy target when alternate cutting points present themselves.....Photo reports are under fire again. Seems men's usual observation does not agree with interpretation and it is disheartening to bombardiers especially when they are not given gredit for bombing where they think they have hit.
487th	First mission of twelve ships attacked the Ferrara railroad bridge at 10:33 this morning. The formation encountered flak all along the route and became more intense and accurate as they reached the target area, holing two ships. 2nd Lt. Gerolde was slightly wounded by flak. The north end of the bridge was covered with bombs of the first box and the second box covered the south end. Only three ships went out in the second mission to drop “window” and frags for the following formation which was to again bomb Ferrara railroad bridge. Frag pattern crossed the north approach to railroad bridge intersect. 7N, piloted by Lts. Lovinfosse and Konigsbert, had one engine shot out over the target and in order to get over the mountains enroute to Corsica it was necessary to throw all excess weight out. Guns, radios, parachutes, flak suits and even one pair of shoes were thrown out over enemy territory, but the ship was returned to the base for a successful landing. 7E had the hydraulic system shot out over the target and was also brought in for a safe landing by Lts. Holmes and MacMillen.
488th	Two missions today, both to Ferrara rail bridges, Italy. Got 92% and 100%.
489th	Not assigned to this mission.

Crew Lists and Mission Reports

Operations

488th 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