12^th AIR FORCE

57^th BOMB WING

340^th BOMB GROUP (M)

MISSION AUGUST 2, 1944

486^th, 487^th, and 489^th Squadrons of the 340^th Bomb Group on August 2, 1944

Var River, France today

(487^th BS Crew sheet from Harry George)

486^th BS Mission sheet credit: Herman Voss

Aug 2, 1944 France

486^th Mission to France! Conjectures are abundant; does this presage an early invasion? Bets were made and as the time unfolds its poignant episodes the players will have to cast their lot. The mission was confirmed by PI as having destroyed the bridge. The flak was heavy and a majority of the planes were holed. One flak burst exploded within the right wing of Lt. Hill's ship and caused the ship to flip over. Lt. Hill quickly cut the left engine and flew home. Upon his arrival he again started the right engine and landed with a hole so big one could not reach across it with both arms outstretched. Lt. Hill deserves more than praise for such handling and we hope he gets the DFC [Distinguished Flying Cross]

487^th The most encouraging and pleasing news of the day was our first raid on Southern France. Thirteen of our planes took off at 09:31 hours to bomb two railroad bridges – north and south near Nice. The frag and demolition bomb load fell short of the target and the Squadron scored a seventeen percent bombing efficiency record for the mission. Six planes were severely damaged as a result of the intense anti-aircraft fire. Many ships returned to the base on one engine although no planes were lost. France is not favored by combat crew members in spite of their former anxiety to raid the country. Credit: Dan Setzer and 57^th Bomb Wing website