12^th AIR FORCE

57^th BOMB WING

340^th BOMB GROUP (M)

MISSION FEBRUARY 5, 1945

486^th , 487^th, 488^th, and 489^th Squadrons of the 340^th Bomb Group

Calliano, Italy today

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

57^th Bomb Wing History “Battle of Brenner Pass” (53 mb-right mouse button save-as file) A must read 114 page booklet with great photos describing the history and strategy of the 57^th Bomb Wing and 340^th Bomb Group from July 1944 to May 1945 (Operations Strangle and Bingo). The Germans could repair track in a day and bridges in about one week! (Credit to Herman Voss and Dan Setzer)

Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini at the Brenner Pass 1940 YouTube

486^th BS Mission sheet credit: Herman Voss

Feb 5, 1944

486^th Today a bursting star. A star with seven points; points of valor and duty and courage. Today seven men went down in a flak killed ship and tonight seven empty bunks bring lumps to men's throats. Lt. Ross and his crew on an operational mission over the Brenner Pass attacked gun positions so that the main flights could bomb accurately and they did -- The mission was recorded as 100% accurate. We hope the reports of one chute seen means at least one chute. And so it is again proven; where the Yanks are duty placed, they rise to the task like men.

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