340th Bomb Group

Group
A B-25 Mitchell (7C) of the 340th Bomb Group, 12th Air Force takes off. media-456008.jpg FRE 6393 A B-25 Mitchell (7C) of the 340th Bomb Group, 12th Air Force takes off. Roger Freeman Collection

added connections

Object Number - FRE 6393 - A B-25 Mitchell (7C) of the 340th Bomb Group, 12th Air Force takes off.

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. Also dropped propaganda leaflets behind enemy lines.

Participated in the reduction of Pantelleria and Lampedusa in June 1943, the bombing of German Evacuation beaches near Messina in July, the establishment of the Salerno beach head in September, the drive for Rome during Jan.- Jun. 1944, the invasion of southern France in Aug. and attacks on the Brenner Pass and other German lines of communication in Northern Italy from Sept. 1944 to Apr. 1945. Received a DUC for the period Apr. - Aug. 1943 when, although handicapped by difficult living conditions and unfavorable weather, the group supported British Eighth Army in Tunisia and Allied forces in Sicily.

Received a second DUC for the destruction of a cruiser in the heavily defended harbor of La Spezia on 23 Sept. 1944 before the ship could be used by the enemy to block the harbors entrance. Returned to the U.S., Jul. - Aug. 1945. Inactivated on 19 Aug. 1949.

Commanding Officers

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 340th Bomb Group Headquarters (340th Bomb Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-17952
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot / Group Commander
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 340th Bomb Group Headquarters (340th Bomb Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-22609
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Group Commander/Pilot (05/1943 - 12/1943), TBF (RAF) Air Liaison Officer 12/1943 - 01/1944, 57th Bomb Wing, Operations Officer 01/1944 - 05/1944
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 340th Bomb Group Headquarters (340th Bomb Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-19832
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Group Commander/Pilot

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Hergla 2 June 1943 - 2 August 1943

Based

Comiso Airfield 2 August 1943 - 27 August 1943

Based

Catania 27 August 1943 - 15 October 1943

Based

San Pancrazio 15 October 1943 - 19 November 1943

Based

Foggia 19 November 1943 - 2 January 1943

Based

Pompeii Airfield 2 January 1943 - 23 March 1944

Based

Paestrum 23 March 1944 - 14 April 1944

Based

Alesan Airfield 14 April 1944 - 2 April 1945

Based

El Kabrit

Based

Sfax 2 June 1943

Other

Assigned 9th Air Force

Other

Assigned 12th Air Force

Encompassing

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 340th Bomb Group 487th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 340th Bomb Group 488th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32138550
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Aerial Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 340th Bomb Group 489th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12047214
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Aircraft Mechanic
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 340th Bomb Group 489th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-761665
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 340th Bomb Group 489th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-700099
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-25 Mitchell
  • Unit: 340th Bomb Group 487th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-25 Mitchell
  • Nicknames: Tuff Stuff
  • Unit: 340th Bomb Group 487th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-25 Mitchell
  • Nicknames: Old Ironsides III
  • Unit: 340th Bomb Group 488th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-25 Mitchell
  • Nicknames: Yahoudi
  • Unit: 340th Bomb Group 487th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-25 Mitchell
  • Nicknames: Mission Completed
  • Unit: 340th Bomb Group 489th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes

340th Bomb Group: Gallery (328 items)