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.

US Air Force Combat Units of World War II Description

Constituted as 30th Bombardment Group (Medium) on 10 Aug 1942 and activated on 20 Aug. Trained with B-25’s for duty overseas. Arrived in the Mediterranean theatre in Mar 1943. Assigned first to Ninth AF and later (in Aug 1943) to Twelfth. Served in combat from Apr 1943 to Apr 1945.

Engaged chiefly in support and interdictory missions, but sometimes bombed strategic objectives. Targets included airfields, railroads, bridges, road junctions, supply depots, gun emplacements, troop concentrations, marshalling 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 Jun 1943, the bombing of German evacuation beaches near Messina in Jul, the establishment of the Salerno beachhead in Sep, 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 Sep 1941 to Apr 1945.

Received a DUC for the period Apr-Aug 1943 when, although handicapped by difficult living conditions and unfavourable weather, the group supported British Eighth Army in Tunisia and Allied forces in Sicily. Received second DUC for the destruction of a cruiser in the heavily defended harbour of La Spezia on 23 Sep 1944 before the ship could be used by the enemy to block the harbour's entrance. Returned to the US, Jul-Aug 1945. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945

Commanding officers

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  William Mills

  Military | Colonel | Group Commander/Pilot | 340th Bomb Group

Structure

Part of

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  12th Air Force

  
  The 12th Air Force was established in the USA during the Second World War to provide the Army Air Force component of Operation Torch (the invasion of French North Africa) in 1942. The Air Force initially moved to England for training before...

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  57th Bomb Wing

  Wing

Encompassing

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  486th Bomb Squadron

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  487th Bomb Squadron

  Squadron

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  488th Bomb Squadron

  Squadron

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  489th Bomb Squadron

  Squadron

Previously was

Not yet known

Became

Not yet known

Stations

Station	Location	Date
Based	El Kabrit	March 1943 – April 1943
Assigned 9th Air Force		March 1943
Based	Sfax	April 1943 – 2 June 1943
Based	Hergla	2 June 1943 – 2 August 1943
Assigned 12th Air Force		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 1944
Based	Pompeii Airfield	2 January 1944 – 23 March 1944
Based	Paestrum	23 March 1944 – 14 April 1944
Based	Alesani Airfield	14 April 1944 – 2 April 1945

Connections

People

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  Russell Ahlstrom

  Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Flight Engineer | 340th Bomb Group

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  Nicholas Albanese

  Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Aerial Gunner | 340th Bomb Group

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  Hugh Allen

  Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Aerial Gunner | 340th Bomb Group

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  George Bacher

  Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Aircraft Mechanic | 340th Bomb Group

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  Frederick Balmes

  Military | Flight Officer | Pilot | 340th Bomb Group

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  Charles Barnett

  Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 340th Bomb Group

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  Wallace Bednarz

  Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Aerial Gunner | 340th Bomb Group

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  Louis Bergh

  Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 340th Bomb Group

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  Raymond Bilodeau

  Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Gunner | 340th Bomb Group

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  Harold Bish

  Military | Private First Class (6th Grade) | 340th Bomb Group

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Aircraft

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  43-27705 Flak Fodder II

  B-25 Mitchell

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  43-28119 Snot Nose

  B-25 Mitchell

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  42-32304

  B-25 Mitchell

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  43-27704 My Naked Ass

  B-25 Mitchell

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  42-53483 Tuff Stuff

  B-25 Mitchell

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  43-27657 Sweat Pea

  B-25 Mitchell

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  43-3990

  B-25 Mitchell

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  43-4013

  B-25 Mitchell

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  43-4023

  B-25 Mitchell

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  43-4025 Madge

  B-25 Mitchell

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Citations

Distinguished Unit Citation - North Africa and Sicily, Apr. 17 - Aug. 1943
Distinguished Unit Citation - Italy, 23 Sept. 1944