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

October 12, 1944 Mission to the Casalecchio Bivouac & Stores Area

Squadron War Diary

340th HQ Diary The "pancake" plan in direct support of the advancing 5th Army troops was executed this morning. As with the attempted Cassino Offensive of Last February 14, this Group was the first over, followed by other Mitchell Groups, Marauder Groups (42nd Wing) Fortresses and Liberators. 5th Army observers forwarded a cablegram to the effect that it was a grand show. 1st Lt. Howdy, still with us and who flew in a camera ship stated he would have quite a good bit to tell his men when returning to the ground forces and especially his own organization who is in the vanguard of this present action. Our particular target in this spectacle was the Casalecchio Bivouac and stores area near Bologna.

486th The Air Force on Parade in the Bologna-Rimini area. We hit stores in Bologna area. Every type of ship from B-24 to Cub was over there. We hope that means a big push. Hopes are always given an upward kick by ground movement.

487th Our first mission in nine days took off at 09:10 hours this morning to bomb supply stores on the outskirts of Bologna. There were eighteen ships in the squadron formation and although clouds covered the target area, this formation bombed through an opening in the clouds, scoring many direct hits. Two of the participating aircraft were holed as a result of enemy anti-aircraft fire......S/Sgt. Paul McMillen, former mess-sergeant flew his first mission today and was in one of the holed ships. A number of the crew members donated their liquor to Paul after the raid which made his story more humorous. Flying in the same plane with Paul was Pvt. Garven former armorer on his first mission also.

488th Missions to stores and bivouac area four miles below Bologna, Italy. Radio-gunner Martin wounded in the leg. Got 98% but second box had radio malfunction. This is the first time the radio release has been tried in our squadron.

489th The mission today carried us to Northern Italy.

Target in 1945

Target Today

View Larger Map

Squadron	War Diary
340th HQ Diary	The "pancake" plan in direct support of the advancing 5th Army troops was executed this morning. As with the attempted Cassino Offensive of Last February 14, this Group was the first over, followed by other Mitchell Groups, Marauder Groups (42nd Wing) Fortresses and Liberators. 5th Army observers forwarded a cablegram to the effect that it was a grand show. 1st Lt. Howdy, still with us and who flew in a camera ship stated he would have quite a good bit to tell his men when returning to the ground forces and especially his own organization who is in the vanguard of this present action. Our particular target in this spectacle was the Casalecchio Bivouac and stores area near Bologna.
486th	The Air Force on Parade in the Bologna-Rimini area. We hit stores in Bologna area. Every type of ship from B-24 to Cub was over there. We hope that means a big push. Hopes are always given an upward kick by ground movement.
487th	Our first mission in nine days took off at 09:10 hours this morning to bomb supply stores on the outskirts of Bologna. There were eighteen ships in the squadron formation and although clouds covered the target area, this formation bombed through an opening in the clouds, scoring many direct hits. Two of the participating aircraft were holed as a result of enemy anti-aircraft fire......S/Sgt. Paul McMillen, former mess-sergeant flew his first mission today and was in one of the holed ships. A number of the crew members donated their liquor to Paul after the raid which made his story more humorous. Flying in the same plane with Paul was Pvt. Garven former armorer on his first mission also.
488th	Missions to stores and bivouac area four miles below Bologna, Italy. Radio-gunner Martin wounded in the leg. Got 98% but second box had radio malfunction. This is the first time the radio release has been tried in our squadron.
489th	The mission today carried us to Northern Italy.

Crew Lists and Mission Reports

On the crew list for the 488th Bomb Squadron below, the bombardier
in plane 8C is listed as 1st Lt. J. Heller. This is Joseph Heller, the
author of the novel Catch-22.

P.I. Report

Crew List 486th
Not Available
Crew List 487th


Crew List 488th


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