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

August 15, 1944 Mission to Avignon Pontoon Bridge

Squadron War Diary

Group HQ Squadron Leader Powell, RCAF, PRO was told to cover a combat assignment. This he fulfilled by flying with our formation this morning having as targets 8 different gun positions immediately preceding the first wave of troops landing in Southern France. Besides the all-consuming landing operations which our air efforts supported, the day was also unique for these reasons: today the Group completed its 500th combat mission and today also marked 18 months of overseas duty for the Group. The Group also set a new high for itself sending up a total 1132 planes on 11 separate missions. The first ship took off at 0517 succeeded by 71 others. All these planes returned safely. At 1520 hrs sixty more planes took off with the Dreaded Avignon Bridge as target. The three bridges designated as targets were well hit but a price was paid. Three of the participating ships did not return and several of those returning were badly shot up.....

486th Not assigned to this mission.

487th Not assigned to this mission.

488th Not assigned to this mission.

489th In the afternoon we sent out eighteen more planes to blast at a road bridge in the Avignon area.

The second mission cost us one plane and one crew. After dropping the bombs and starting for home, it fell out of the formation, but it remained under control. This was the last that was ever seen of it.

Losses in action over Southern France on August 15th:

Thomas, Baxter, 1st Lt.
Swanson, Fred C., 2nd Lt.
England, George H., 2nd Lt.
Buchanan, John J., T/Sgt.
Williamson, William F., S/Sgt.
Craver, Luther S.

Target in 1944

Target Today

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Squadron	War Diary
Group HQ	Squadron Leader Powell, RCAF, PRO was told to cover a combat assignment. This he fulfilled by flying with our formation this morning having as targets 8 different gun positions immediately preceding the first wave of troops landing in Southern France. Besides the all-consuming landing operations which our air efforts supported, the day was also unique for these reasons: today the Group completed its 500th combat mission and today also marked 18 months of overseas duty for the Group. The Group also set a new high for itself sending up a total 1132 planes on 11 separate missions. The first ship took off at 0517 succeeded by 71 others. All these planes returned safely. At 1520 hrs sixty more planes took off with the Dreaded Avignon Bridge as target. The three bridges designated as targets were well hit but a price was paid. Three of the participating ships did not return and several of those returning were badly shot up.....
486th	Not assigned to this mission.
487th	Not assigned to this mission.
488th	Not assigned to this mission.
489th	In the afternoon we sent out eighteen more planes to blast at a road bridge in the Avignon area. The second mission cost us one plane and one crew. After dropping the bombs and starting for home, it fell out of the formation, but it remained under control. This was the last that was ever seen of it. Losses in action over Southern France on August 15th: Thomas, Baxter, 1st Lt. Swanson, Fred C., 2nd Lt. England, George H., 2nd Lt. Buchanan, John J., T/Sgt. Williamson, William F., S/Sgt. Craver, Luther S.

Crew Lists and Mission Reports

Operation Orders


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