340th Bomb Group History

340th Bombardment Group History

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

December 22, 1944 Lavis & Chiari Railroad Bridges

Squadron War Diary

340th HQ Diary Our first mission in seven days brought the formation home all shot up and scattered all over the sky. The Lavis railroad bridge was the primary target but the formation couldn't find it early enough after hitting the initial point. One box bombed and cut an alternate bridge target, Chiavari. The accurate flak damaged two aircraft so badly they had to make emergency landings at fields in Italy, and three of our B-25s made emergency landings at Alesan.... Throughout the day the weather here was cold and blustery, and yesterday it rained killing operations. Apparently we're catching the worst of the Corsican winter weather right about now.

486th Mission at last - to Lavis R/R Bridge up near the Brenner Pass – no bombs dropped due to weather conditions. The day is clear and cold and windy but certainly a relief from the drizzle and mud.

487th The lull in operations was broken this morning when eighteen bombers of the 487th Squadron took off to bomb Lavis railroad bridge and Chiari railroad bridge in Northern Italy. Both targets were bombed, but a heavy haze prevented observations although it is believed that the bombs landed within the target area. One ship was holed as a result of the scant anti-aircraft fire. 7V was forced down at Rimini before going over the target as a result of engine trouble.

488th Stand-down. Rain all day. Three aircraft were "sweated in" this morning through the poor visibility.

489th For a change there was no rain. But it has been bitterly cold with a high wind that tossed our airplanes about the sky like a boy's kite.

A mission was run to a rail bridge north of Trent in Italy. For over three hours our crews flew in subzero weather, but to no avail. The primary target could not be located, because of ground haze, and the alternate target was not bombed for the same reason.

Target in 1945

Target Today

Squadron	War Diary
340th HQ Diary	Our first mission in seven days brought the formation home all shot up and scattered all over the sky. The Lavis railroad bridge was the primary target but the formation couldn't find it early enough after hitting the initial point. One box bombed and cut an alternate bridge target, Chiavari. The accurate flak damaged two aircraft so badly they had to make emergency landings at fields in Italy, and three of our B-25s made emergency landings at Alesan.... Throughout the day the weather here was cold and blustery, and yesterday it rained killing operations. Apparently we're catching the worst of the Corsican winter weather right about now.
486th	Mission at last - to Lavis R/R Bridge up near the Brenner Pass – no bombs dropped due to weather conditions. The day is clear and cold and windy but certainly a relief from the drizzle and mud.
487th	The lull in operations was broken this morning when eighteen bombers of the 487th Squadron took off to bomb Lavis railroad bridge and Chiari railroad bridge in Northern Italy. Both targets were bombed, but a heavy haze prevented observations although it is believed that the bombs landed within the target area. One ship was holed as a result of the scant anti-aircraft fire. 7V was forced down at Rimini before going over the target as a result of engine trouble.
488th	Stand-down. Rain all day. Three aircraft were "sweated in" this morning through the poor visibility.
489th	For a change there was no rain. But it has been bitterly cold with a high wind that tossed our airplanes about the sky like a boy's kite. A mission was run to a rail bridge north of Trent in Italy. For over three hours our crews flew in subzero weather, but to no avail. The primary target could not be located, because of ground haze, and the alternate target was not bombed for the same reason.

Crew Lists and Mission Reports

486th Squadron

487th Squadron


488th Squadron


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