12^th AIR FORCE

57^th BOMB WING

340^th BOMB GROUP (M)

MISSIONS OCTOBER 3, 1944

487^th , 488^th, and 489^th Squadrons October 3, 1944

Photo Credit: Dan Setzer and 57^th Bomb Wing website

Magenta, Italy today

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-32704 - 7A “MY NAKED ASS”

Photo courtesy of Herman Voss- custodian of John Sterrett-Tail Gunner 486^th BS

Oct 3, 1944 Below credit: Dan Setzer and 57^th Bomb Wing website

488^th Twelve planes to Magenta RR Bridge, Italy again. 8 of them holed. No one observed any hits and the cameras refused to take any pictures -- at least we didn't get any so no credit for the mission. The crews are getting tired of going up into this particular territory as the flak is really accurate.

489^th Eighteen planes of the squadron were sent to the Magenta railroad bridge and gun positions nearby. Dropping high explosives and incendiaries in the face of fierce enemy opposition, we failed in our objective.

Numerous airplanes were holed, and there were some close brushes with death. A gunner had an experience which should give him something to think about, and he should consider himself living on borrowed time. A large piece of flak went completely through his flak suit and half way through a Bible which he carried in his left shirt pocket. Lt. Bulkeley brought his plane in safely on a single engine.