Site
Edited and maintained by Doug Cook
Last
Update
12th
340th BOMB GROUP MISSIONS
INDEX
340th BOMB
GROUP SQUADRON PATCHES
A colorful daily accounting
of 340th BG life and combat from 1943 to 1945 expanding and
personalizing the mission documentation below:
487th SQUADRON HISTORY and WAR DIARY
AUTHOR’S NOTES:
My father, Charles M. Cook, was a pilot in the 487th Squadron
and flew combat bombing missions from Alesan base
DATE |
|
NUMBER |
SQUADRONS |
PHOTO |
REPORT |
COMMENTS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Begin OPERATION TORCH: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liberate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Begin OPERATION STRANGLE: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cut German supply lines in Italy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Axis forces surrender in
Tunisia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
486, 488, 489 |
x |
|
486th 2 ships downed |
||
3 |
487, 488, 489 |
x |
|
|
||
Terni M/Y (marshalling
yard) |
4 |
486, 488 |
x |
|
|
|
|
5 |
487, 488, 489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
7 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
12 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
16 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
27 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
26 |
487, 489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
33 |
487, 489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
36 |
487, 488, 489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
59 |
486,487,489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
63 |
486,487,489 |
x |
|
Vesuvius erupting; 3/22 base destroyed |
|
|
66 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
68 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
69 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
70 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
74 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
79 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
80 |
487, 488, 489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
84 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
Perugia A/D (Aerodrome) |
88 |
486,487,489 |
x |
|
7K and 7T downed |
|
89 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
9N Crew wounded and returned to base |
|
|
90 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
91 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
92 |
486,488,489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
94 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
97 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
340th BG |
|
|
Moved to Alesan Air Base, |
|
103 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
104? |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
105 |
488? |
x |
|
|
|
|
106 |
486,487,489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
109 |
487, 489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
110 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
114 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
117 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
340th BG |
|
|
Alesan Air Base bombed by Germans |
|
143 |
486, 488 |
x |
|
|
|
|
145 |
486, 488 |
x |
|
|
|
|
147 |
487 |
x |
|
|
|
|
151 |
486, 489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
149 |
487, 489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
152 |
487, 489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
154 |
486, 488 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
155 |
487, 489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
156 |
486, 488 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
|
340th BG |
|
x |
|
|
|
157 |
486, 489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
158 |
488, 489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
159 |
487 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
160 |
486,488 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
163 |
486, 487, 488 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
164 |
486 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
|
166 |
488, 489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
487 |
|
x |
|
|
|
167? |
487, 488 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
Gricigliana N RR Br |
168 |
489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
169-170 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
171 |
487, 489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
Orte Rd Br PM |
173? |
486, 487 |
x |
|
|
|
174 |
486, 487 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
175 |
487, 488 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
176 |
489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
177-178 |
486,487,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
179 |
486, 487,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
181 |
486, 488 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
182 |
487, 489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
184 |
486, 487, 488 |
x |
x |
||
|
185 |
486, 489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
186 |
488, 489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
187 |
486, 487 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
188-189 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
190-191 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
Bandits shot down |
|
|
192-193 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
194-195 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
198 |
486,487 |
x |
|
|
|
|
196? |
488,489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
197-198 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
199-200 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
||
|
202 |
486,487 |
|
x |
|
|
|
203-204 |
486,487,488 |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
340th BG |
|
x |
|
|
|
206-207 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
208-209 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
3 487th ships holed; Ryerson
wounded |
|
|
210 |
486, 487 |
|
x |
4 plus 7 ships holed; wounded |
|
|
211 |
486, 487 |
x |
x |
Attacked by bandit ME-109s |
|
|
|
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
9 ships holed; Lt B. Bloomberg wounded |
|
|
217 |
486, 488, 489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
218 |
487, 488, 489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
219-220 |
486,487, 489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
221-222 |
486, 487,489 |
x |
x |
10 FW-190 bandits; 1 ship holed |
|
|
223-224 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
5 ships holed; wounded; 2
engines out |
|
|
225? |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
10 ME-109 and FW-190 bandits |
|
|
226?-227 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
1 ship holed; Lt Frazier wounded |
|
|
228 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
229 |
486, 487, 488 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
|
487,488,489 |
|
x |
|
|
|
232 |
486, 487, 489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
|
486,487,489 |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
486, 487, 488 |
|
x |
|
|
|
234 |
486,488, 489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
235 |
486, 487, 488 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
236 |
487,488,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
237 |
487,488,489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
238 |
486,487,489 |
x |
x |
5 ships holed |
|
|
239 |
486,488,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
241 |
486,487,488 |
x |
x |
6 ships holed; Lt B. Bloomberg wounded |
|
|
|
340th BG |
|
x |
|
|
|
243 |
487,488,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
AUG 1944 SUPPORT |
|
340th BG |
|
|
|
|
245-246 |
486,487,489 |
x |
x |
6 ships holed; 1 ship holed |
|
|
247 |
486,488,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
249 |
486, 487 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
252 |
487,488,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
254 |
487,488,489 |
x |
x |
4 ships holed; 2 wounded |
|
|
256 |
486, 487 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
257 |
487, 489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
258 |
486,488,489 |
x |
x |
1 ship downed; crew killed and wounded |
|
|
261 |
486,487,488 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
264 |
487 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
265 |
489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
266 |
486 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
267?-268 |
486-487 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
269? |
489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
271,273, 274 |
486, 487, 488 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
276-277 |
486,488 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
278 |
487 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
D- |
|
340th BG |
|
|
|
|
283-286 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
||
|
287-289 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
340th BG 24 ships holed; 6T, 9P downed |
|
|
290-291 |
487, 488, 489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
556 |
487, 488, 489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
|
487 |
|
x |
|
|
|
515?, 516 |
486,487,489 |
x |
x |
2 ships holed |
|
|
517 |
486, 489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
518 |
486,488,489 |
x |
x |
488th 2 ships holed |
|
|
519-520 |
486,487,488 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
521? |
486, 487 |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
522 |
488, 489 |
|
|
|
|
|
487 |
|
x |
|
|
|
525 |
486, 487 |
x |
x |
3 bandit ME-109s |
|
|
|
487 |
|
x |
|
|
|
529 |
486, 489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
530 |
486, 488 |
x |
|
|
|
|
531 |
486, 489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
|
340th BG |
|
x |
|
|
|
533 |
486, 487 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
534 |
487, 488, 489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
536-537 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
538-539 |
486,487,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
541-543 |
486,487,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
544-545 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
3 ships holed |
|
|
548-549 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
550-551 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
553 |
486,487 |
|
x |
|
|
|
555 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
6 ships holed; 7J, 7L serious |
|
|
556 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
557-559 |
486,487 |
|
x |
7N engine shot out |
|
|
560-562 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
6 ships holed; 7Y hydraulics shot out |
|
|
563-564 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
565 |
488, 489 |
x |
|
Awarded Distinguished Unit Citation |
|
|
566 |
486, 487 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
|
487 |
|
x |
Clouds |
|
|
571 |
487, 489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
572? |
487 |
|
x |
|
|
|
573 |
486, 488 |
x |
|
|
|
|
574 |
489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
|
340th BG |
|
x |
|
|
|
576 |
487 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
577 |
489 |
x |
|
|
|
|
578 |
486, 488 |
x |
|
|
|
|
579 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
581 |
487, 488, 489 |
|
x |
7A engine fire; 8+ ships holed. |
|
|
584 |
486,487,488,489 |
|
x |
2 ships holed |
|
|
585 |
487, 488 |
|
x |
|
|
|
590 |
486, 487, 489 |
|
x |
Clouds |
|
|
591 |
486,487,488,489 |
|
x |
5 ships holed; Lt. R Meek killed, Lt B. Bloomberg, Lantz, Trudell
wounded |
|
|
593-594 |
486,487 |
|
x |
9 ships holed 7H serious |
|
|
|
487 |
|
x |
5 ships holed; 2 wounded |
|
|
|
340th BG |
|
x |
|
|
|
598 |
486,488,489 |
x |
x |
9E Downed |
|
|
600-601 |
486,487,489 |
|
x |
|
|
|
OPERATION BINGO begins |
|
340th BG |
|
|
All out bombing of |
|
602-603 |
486,487,488 |
x |
x |
3 ships holed; 5 bandits: 1 downed |
|
|
604 |
486, 489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
606 |
486, 487 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
608 |
486,487 |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
487 |
|
x |
Clouds |
|
|
612 |
487, 488 |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
487 |
|
x |
3 ships holed |
|
|
615-616 |
486,487,488 |
|
x |
|
|
|
623, 628 |
486,487 |
|
x |
Clouds |
|
|
625-626 |
486 |
|
x |
|
|
|
631 |
486.487 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
638 |
487, 488 |
x |
|
|
|
|
|
340th BG |
|
x |
|
|
|
641 |
486,487 |
|
x |
|
|
|
|
486,487 |
|
x |
|
|
|
644 |
487 |
|
x |
|
|
|
645,647 |
487th; 57th BW |
|
x |
Many bandits; 340th: 3 ships downed |
|
|
650 |
487,488,489 |
|
x |
|
|
|
652-653 |
486,487,488,489 |
|
x |
|
|
|
658 |
486,487,488,489 |
|
x |
1 ship holed; 7V missing |
|
|
663 |
486,487 |
|
x |
|
|
|
665 |
486,487,489 |
x |
x |
Clouds; 486th&489th bombed |
|
|
667 |
486,487 |
|
x |
|
|
|
668-670 |
486,487,488,489 |
|
x |
3 ships holed; witness C-47 crash |
|
|
671 |
487, 488 |
|
x |
2 ships holed |
|
|
673-674 |
486,487,489 |
|
x |
11 ships holed; 2 wounded |
|
|
|
340th BG |
|
x |
|
|
|
679-680 |
486,487,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
683 |
486,487,488 |
|
x |
1 ship holed |
|
|
686 |
487,488 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
690 |
487, 489 |
|
x |
1 wounded Lt Frazier |
|
|
691,692 |
486,487,488 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
693 |
486,487,489 |
|
x |
1 ship holed |
|
|
694-695 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
Trento M/Y (marshalling
yard) |
696 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
6 ships holed; 7L downed |
|
697-698 |
486,487,488,489 |
|
x |
|
|
|
699 |
486,487 |
|
x |
|
|
|
704 |
486,487 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
706 |
486,487 |
|
x |
|
|
|
708 |
486,487 |
|
x |
3 ships holed; 7B Sgt White wounded |
|
|
707 |
487,488 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
710-711 |
486,487,488,489 |
|
x |
2 ships holed |
|
|
714-715 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
3 ships holed |
|
|
|
340th BG |
|
x |
|
|
|
720-721 |
486,487,488 |
|
x |
|
|
|
723-724 |
486,487,488,489 |
|
x |
1 ship downed; |
|
|
732 |
486,487,488,489 |
|
x |
3 ships holed |
|
|
747 |
486,487,488 |
x |
x |
7 ships holed; Lt Adams wounded |
|
|
751 |
486,489 |
x |
x |
Crew wounded |
|
|
Pizzigettone Brs |
752 |
487,488 |
|
|
2 ships holed; Lt Ware wounded |
|
754-755 |
486,488 |
x |
x |
6 ships holed; 3 ships downed |
|
|
San Michele RR Br / Salorno |
761 |
486,487,489 |
x |
x |
2 bandits downed |
|
Enego RR Br / Ora |
769 |
486,489 |
x |
|
|
|
772 |
486,487,488 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
776-777 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
780 |
486,488,489 |
x |
x |
3 ships holed |
|
|
782-783 |
486,488,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
785 |
486,487,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
787 |
486,488,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
Mori RR Fill / Rovereto |
788 |
486,487,488 |
x |
x |
1 ship holed; 1 wounded |
|
790 |
486,487 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
792 |
486,488,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
793 |
486, 487,489 |
x |
x |
2 ships holed; 1 ship downed |
|
|
798 |
486,487 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
801-802 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
5 ships downed |
|
|
805-806 |
486,488 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
808 |
486,488 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
809 |
486,488 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
810 |
486,487,488 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
812 |
486,487 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
815-816 |
486,488,489 |
x |
x |
3 ships holed; Wounded; 1 ship downed |
|
|
819-820 |
486,487,488 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
822 |
486,488 |
x |
x |
Moved to |
|
|
828-829 |
486,487,489 |
x |
|
7 ships holed; 1 plane downed |
|
|
833 |
486,488 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
837-838 |
486,488,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
842-843 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
1 ship holed |
|
|
846-847 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
7 ships severely holed; 3 men wounded |
|
|
850 |
486,488,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
851 |
486 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
853 |
486,487,488,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
863 |
486,487,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
867-868 |
486,487,489 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
870-871 |
486,487,488 |
x |
x |
4 ships holed |
|
|
873 |
486,489 |
x |
x |
1 ship holed |
|
|
874 |
486,487 |
x |
x |
Final blows to Nazis in Italy |
|
|
880,883 |
486,487,488,489 |
|
|
All out effort- four missions today |
|
|
Final combat missions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GERMANS SURRENDER |
|
|
|
|
|
|
GERMAN TOTAL SURRENDER |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|