340th Bomb Group 487^th Bomb Squadron MISSIONS

Historical Photos from Charles Cook’s Photo Collection

and Squadron Album

Edited by his son Doug Cook including imagery from Google Earth

Last Update June 18, 2010

ORDINANCE and ARMAMENT

MISSIONS SPREADSHEET and LOG

BOMB RUNS ON TARGETS ALONG PO RIVER

BOMB RUNS ON TARGETS IN BRENNER PASS

BOMB RUN ON RECOARO TERME, ITALY APRIL 20, 1945

GERMANS SURRENDER ITALY

MORE 487^th SQUADRON MISSIONS and MISSION SHEETS from DAVID KONIGSBERG

Activated on 20 August 1942, the 340th Bombardment Group trained with B-25's for duty overseas. They arrived in the Mediterranean theater in March 1943. Assigned first to the Ninth Air Force and later (in August 1943) to the Twelfth. Served in combat from April 1943 to April 1945. Engaged chiefly in support and introductory missions, but sometimes bombed strategic objectives. Targets included airfields, railroads, bridges, road junctions, supply depots, gun emplacements, troop concentrations, marshaling yards and factories in Tunisia, Sicily, Italy, France, Austria, Bulgaria, Albania, Yugoslavia, and Greece. Credit: http://www.budslawncare.com/57/340.htm

The 487^th Bomb Squadron was stationed in Paestum, Italy from 23 March 1944 until moving to Alesan, Corsica 14 April 1944. My father, Charles Cook flew 70 missions as a B-25 pilot with the 487^th from March 1944 to February 1945. During this time, tactical missions were primarily flown against road and railroad bridges along the Po River Valley and Brenner Pass successfully blocking German transport supply lines. “D-Day” missions were also flown into southern France as Allied forces invaded there in August 1944. German anti-aircraft guns guarded their strategic bridges. The anti-aircraft flak took a heavy toll on man and planes.

The 489th BS lost 75 aircraft (three times its assigned strength) while was flying out of Alesan, Corsica, either because they didn’t return from missions or couldn’t be repaired after limping back. http://warwingsart.com/57thWing/340thBG/489BS/index.htm Losses were similar for the 487^th Squadron since they flew formation together on the same missions. My father never talked about this and tended to downplay the danger he and his crew faced on every mission. This is evidenced by this mission sheet where he was leading the squadron to bomb a bridge at Trento, Italy in the Brenner Pass campaign Jan. 20, 1945. B-25 7L did not return. The crews did have parachutes and many escaped a doomed ship. Of those, some were taken prisoner by the Germans and sent to stalag camps. Others were fortunate to be aided by Italian partisani until liberated by Allied troops.

A complete list of 340^th Bomb Group missions in this time frame can be found at:

http://www.warwingsart.com/12thAirForce/340thmissions.html

A great reference for 487^th and 489^th Squadron mission briefings can be found at:

http://www.warwingsart.com/12thAirForce/briefing.html

ORDINANCE and ARMAMENT

Gifts for the German troops

After Mission Briefing Combat Crews Roll Out to their Assigned Planes

CREW PHOTO of McKINLEY JR. HIGH after her MAIDEN MISSION MAY 19, 1944

PLANE was SHOT DOWN JUNE 22, 1944

“Left to right) Pilot 1^st Lt. William A. McLaughlin ; Pilot 2^nd Lt. Charles M. Cook (photo credit);

Radio Operator/Gunner T/Sgt. Harvey Hyland;Turret Gunner/Engineer Sgt. Eugene Simonson;

Tail Gunner Sgt. Robert Bishop; Copilot 2^nd Lt. George Simpson (shot down April 6 and made it back!)

(kneeling) Crew Chief S/Sgt. Howard Pinneo; Asst. Crew Chief/ Gunner S/Sgt Charles Floyd

Plane “McKinley Jr. High” was shot down shortly after this photo.

Sky Demon takes off for combat

487^th Squadron taxis out for a mission. (Credit K. Dempsey)

AIRBASE at ALESAN, CORSICA

487^th SQUADRON PLANES IN FORMATION

From Charles Cook’s Collection

Squadron formation is two boxes of six planes

Planes stacked en echelon

IN BOMB RUN ON BRENNER PASS- - SOLE STRATEGIC GERMAN TRANSPORTATION ROTE TO AUSTRIA

CHARLES COOK 487th Bomb Squadron Corsica Missions

Flew 201 sorties in theater Mar, 1944 to Feb, 1945 including training and combat

NUMBER	MISSION DATE	TARGET (Italy or N.B.)	COMMENTS
			Some comments are from Harvey Hyland's Log Book
1	April 3, 1944	Orvieto RRB 9.5 SE
2	April 4, 1944	Perugia A/D
3	April 6, 1944	Perugia A/D	Hot flak; Cook's ship 105 flak holes;
			2 ships down; 1 with rt. Engine on fire
			slow spin until blew up at 500 feet; 2nd with
			1 engine out crashed into mtn.: 4 chutes;
			George Simpson made it back to base.
4	April 7, 1944	Ficulle RRB
5	April 8, 1944	Orte N RRB	No flak
6	April 13, 1944	Ficulle NW RRB	No flak
			Moved from Guado Base to Alesan, Corsica
7	April 15, 1944	Viterbo A/D N
8	April 15, 1944	Marsciano RRB
9	April 16, 1944	Todi N RRB
10	April 17, 1944	Todi 5N RRB
11	April 22, 1944	Todi 5N RRB
12	April 22, 1944	Ficulle NW RRB
13	April 24, 1944	Orvieto NW RRB	Charles Cook to 1st Pilot
14	April 28, 1944	Orvieto RRB 9.5 SE
15	April 29, 1944	Terni Viaduct
16	May 12, 1944	Itri	No drop- clouds
17	May 12, 1944	Itri Rd Junction	Hot flak: 1 plane hit, down in flames, no chutes
	May 13, 1944	Germans attack Alesan Air Base	487th: 1 dead, 2 wounded;
			340th BG: 14 dead, 30 wounded
18	May 14, 1944	Arezzo RRB 2.5 W	Hot flak
19	May 16, 1944	Orvieto M/Y E Choke Point
20	May 18, 1944	Viareggio RRB	No flak
21	May 19, 1944	Pontassieve RRB	Maiden mission of 7C McKinley Jr. High
			Hot flak
22	May 22, 1944	Cave Road Block	No flak
23	May 26, 1944	Piteccio Viaduct
24	May 27, 1944	Castiglione Fiorentino RRB
25	May 27, 1944	Necropoli Rd/RRB
26	May 28, 1944	Pias-Albavola RRB
27	May 29, 1944	Bucine Viaduct
28	May 31, 1944	Grottafarra Rd Block
29	June 1, 1944	Fossato Viaduct	No flak
30	June 2, 1944	Civita - Castelano RRB	Light flak
31	June 3, 1944	Verno RRB
32	June 4, 1944	Verno RRB
33	June 5, 1944	Orte RRB	Flak- not accurate
34	June 5, 1944	Narni Factory RRB
35	June 6, 1944	Orvieto Rd Br	D-Day N. France Normandy
36	June 10, 1944	Fano M/Y
37	June 14, 1944	Grizzana RRB
38	June 22, 1944	Gricigliana RRB	7C McKinley Jr High Shot down; 4 chutes
			Harry George rescued after 3 months
39	July 14, 1944	Zoagli Rd Br
40	July 15, 1944	Ferrera Hwy Br
41	July 15, 1944	Ferrera Hwy Br
42	July 20, 1944	Mantua S. RRB
43	July 22, 1944	Ronco - Scrivia Br
44	July 26, 1944	Ostiglia Rd / RRB	Heavy flak "sky was black" 7T holed
45	July 30, 1944	Ferrara Rd / RRB
46	August 2, 1944	Nice, France RRB N	Prepare for S. France D-Day
47	August 11, 1944	St. Raphall, France Shore Battery
48	August 12, 1944	La Ciotat, France Guns
49	August 13, 1944	S. France Coastal Guns
50	August 15, 1944	S. France D-Day Avignon Rd. Br.	Hot flak: Cook-controls hit but hit target-got
			Dist. Flying Cross; 486th plane down in flames
51	August 15, 1944	Cape Drammont Gun Site, France
52	August 19, 1944	Orange, France RRB
53	August 19, 1944	Mont Faucon, France Rd Br
54	September 4, 1944	Canneto RRB	No flak
55	September 12, 1944	La Spezia RRB
	September 22, 1944		Return from R&R Egypt and Holy Land
56	October 12, 1944	S. Bologna Ammo Stores/Depot	Light flak; B-17's caught hell: 1 shot down
57	November 6, 1944	Trento transformer station	Brenner Pass "Flak Alley"
58	November 19, 1944	Faenza N RRB
59	November 28, 1944	Magenta Rd & RRB	Hot flak; Oct. 19: 7Z copilot R. Meek killed
60	December 10, 1944	Calliano RRB	Brenner Pass: Hot flak, 3 ships down, 2 in flames;
			P-47's dogfight ME-109's
61	December 14, 1944	Calliano RRB	Brenner Pass
62	December 27, 1944	Borovinica E RR viaduct	No flak
63	December 29, 1944	Porodenone RRB
64	December 30, 1944	Calliano RRB	Brenner Pass: target clouded
65	January 3, 1945	Lavis RRB
66	January 4, 1945	San Margherita S RRB
67	January 15, 1945	San Margherita S RRB
68	January 17, 1945	Roveretto RRB	Brenner Pass
69	January 20, 1944	Trento MY	Brenner Pass; 7L Shot down
70	January 27, 1945	Bressana-Botarone RRB	Brenner Pass
71	January 28, 1945	S Michelle RRB	Brenner Pass
72	January 29, 1945	Roveretto RRB	Brenner Pass

BOMB RUNS ON TARGETS ALONG PO RIVER

UNDATED and UNAMED BOMB RUN ON TWIN BRIDGES ASSUMED TO BE ON THE PO RIVER

FAENZA NORTH ROAD BRIDGE NOV. 19, 1944

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FAENZA, ITALY TODAY

BOMB CRATER SCARS FAENZA, ITALY TODAY

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MAGENTA ROAD AND RR BRIDGES NOV. 28, 1944

Note: Phosphorous bombs used to take out anti-aircraft positions. Ostensibly, the German raid on the 340^th BG at Alesan Air Base on May 13, 1944 was in retaliation for the use of phosphorous bombs. Recent use in Iraq has been very controversial.

MAGENTA, ITALY TODAY

TARGET BRIDGES MAGENTA, ITALY TODAY

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Bombs in flight

TARGET BRIDGES PONTETIDONE, ITALY JAN. 19, 1945

Bombs released by radio was a new tactic putting all the bombing accuracy on the release of bombs by the bombardier in the lead plane. Bombing accuracy was greatly increased with the advent of the Norden Bomb Sight. When the lead plane released bombs, all the planes in formation would drop their load by radio from the lead.

TARGET BRIDGES PONTETIDONE, ITALY TODAY

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Target bridges Gricigliana, Italy June 22, 1944

487th BS B-25 “McKinley Jr. High” shot down by enemy fire.

Gricigliana bomb run approach

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BOMB RUNS ON TARGETS IN BRENNER PASS “FLAK ALLEY”

Targets in the Brenner Pass area ranged into Austria and were in most instances railroad bridges, tunnel entrances or replacement troop or supply concentrations. Typical Alpine Mission: Target the Marshaling yards out side of the city of Trento, The attack is planned so that the bomb drop can be made at high noon. This is essential because for effective visual bombing it is necessary to see the target and only during the noonday does the sunshine on the floor of the Brenner Pass because of the high mountains casting deep shadows during any other period of the day. The sortie would be accomplished at an attitude of from 1 to 300 feet above the mountain peaks, coming in over the pass, turning immediately on the IP and making the bomb run up the Brenner Pass. Naturally the German guns were moved from the floor of the valley to positions high on the mountain side. It has been known on occasions, on low attack runs, for German anti-aircraft guns to be shooting down at the medium bombers making their target run. Another factor for consideration was that fighter escort was seldom afforded medium bombers due to commitments in supporting the heavy bombers. Likewise it was on rare occasions that medium bomber groups were afforded the luxury of anti-flak fighters assigned to attack enemy gun positions.

B-25s Flying Brenner Pass- Google Earth Video Animation!!!

Using Google Earth to “fly the pass”.

B-25s Flying Brenner Pass- Google Earth Video Animation!!!

MISSIONS DECEMBER 10, 1944 THE ENTIRE 310^th, 319^th , 321^st , and 340^th BOMB GROUPS WERE SENT TO BOMB RR BRIDGES in BRENNER PASS at CALLIANO, OSSENIGA, ROVERETTO, and DOLCE.

Mission # 645 Three bridges and a long fill on the Brenner Pass Railroad were today's targets. Two boxes of planes from the 487th Sqdn. attacked the Calliano Railraod Bridge #3 at A-746089. The first bombed just north of the bridge and the second south of it, both probably cratering the track. At Calliano RR Bridge #2 at A-744087, the 487th box bombed across the tracks 500 yards south of the bridge and the 486th box hit the bridge and its north approach. Four aircraft were lost. Two from the 310th BG. Theses were the "Donna Marie" and "El Lobo III". One lost from the 319th BG. B-25 #43-36216, the pilot was Lt.Herbert Herman. The aircraft was lost between Lake Garda and Lake Iseo, North East Italy. The aircraft was shot down by Me 109s of the 2nd F.G of Italian Republican Air Force (Fascist Air Force allied to Luftwaffe). The first to attack the ship was Capt. Bellagambi, an Italian ace.
One lost from the 321st BG. B-25J #43-27895. Credits Giuseppe Versolato see his account!

My Dad was piloting B-25 7E “Watch Copier” leading the third box from the 487^th Squadron

Using Google Earth to “fly the pass”. Mission to bomb RR marshaling yards at Trento

Trento, Italy targeted by 486^th, 487^th, 488^th, and 489^th Squadrons of the 340^th Bomb Group on Jan. 20, 1945

Bressana, Italy bridge target Jan. 27, 1945 on Po River. (San Michele and Bottarone are in Brenner Pass)

Bressana, Italy today

Trento to Lavis, Italy today

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Lavis, Italy bombed Mar. 1, 1945

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BOMB RUN ON RECOARO TERME , ITALY APRIL 20, 1945

GERMANS SURRENDER ITALY

From Giuseppe Versolato [gversola@alice.it] www.giuseppeversolato.it All material below are to his credit.

[The 487th was involved , in one of its last Italian missions (20 April 1945), on a great operation, the bombing of the German Army Headquarters in Italy at Recoaro Terme in the territory of my town Vicenza, North East Italy. Here there was the commander of Germans , Gen. Von Vietinghoff-Schell. A few days after this raid German signed the surrender of German Army in Italy.

With other two friends I wrote also a book about this mission, "Recoaro 1945, The surrender of German Army in Italy "where is detailed written the mission performed by 12 aircraft of the 486th and 6 of the 487th. I think you can agree from some photos of the bombing that the 487th was a protagonist.]

Email Dialog with Giuseppe Versolato (Dec. 19, 2005):

Lt. W. M. Hartman (487^th) Returns Stateside after the Germans surrender.

Note the 487^th Black Knight logo on his bag.

Giuseppe

Nice image [of Hartman] with the Black Knight! I was thinking last night that you experienced the bombs the 340th BG was dropping from the other end. I remember as a young boy asking my father what he thought about innocent people on the ground getting one of his bombs. I don't remember his exact reply but I know he was proud to have done a job for his country and to have an effect on the outcome. Thanks, Doug

Yes Doug,

Many people were involved and killed in the bombardments... but it was the" price" of the Freedom of Italy. People paid the terrific [price to end the] alliance of Mussolini and his government with the Nazism. Have you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Giuseppe

487^th Squadron Mission Sheet for April 20, 1945