The 489th Bombardment Squadron in Corsica


Photographs of 340th Bombardment Group B-25J Mitchell Medium Bombers with Republic P-47D Thunderbolt Escorts
Planes, Part 19

This remarkable picture shows North American B-25J Mitchell medium bomber 7J "YAHOUDI" of the 487th Bombardment Squadron, 340th Bombardment Group being escorted by three Republic P-47D Thunderbolts (affectionately known as "Jugs") from the 346th Fighter Squadron ("Checkerboard Squadron") of the 350th Fighter Group. This photograph, provided by Harry George Jr., was mailed in a card to his father, 487th BS pilot Harry D. George from Bill Slate who spent much time researching the service records of B-25s. Dominique Taddei describes the escort protocol: "An escort area consisted of fighters flying on their own mission but sent to targets not far from Bomber's Groups going to bomb other targets. If these bombers were attacked by enemy fighters, the leader had the right to break the radio silence and call for help. The fighters, listening on the same radio frequency were coming as fast as possible to chase the "bandits."



North American B-25J Mitchell 6J of the 486th Bombardment Squadron, 340th Bombardment Group with Republic P-47 escorts from the 347th Fighter Squadron ("Screaming Red Ass Squadron"), 350th Fighter Group. Photo from Dominique Taddei. The 347th was the only one of the three fighter squadrons in the 350th Fighter Group stationed on Corsica, at Ghisonaccia. See map.



North American B-25J Mitchell medium bombers 7C and 7F from the 487th Bombardment Squadron, 340th Bombardment Group being escorted by Republic P-47s from the 346th Fighter Squadron ("Checkerboard Squadron"), 350th Fighter Group. Photograph from Dominique Taddei.



This photograph was taken from a B-25 by Captain Jackson Bauer from Baltimore, Maryland, pilot in the 489th Bombardment Squadron. The pilot of the P-47D is 1st Lt. Harry Cogan of the 66th Fighter Squadron ("Exterminator Squadron"), 57th Fighter Group. Photograph contributed by Dominique Taddei.



The top and bottom photographs were sent to me by T/Sgt., radio-gunner Walker Harris of the 489th Bombardment Squadron. Walker Harris was shot down in B-25J 9E on November 4, 1944 over Alessandria, Italy and met up with P-47 pilots Ardell Klemme (above, before he was shot down) and Reginald Jorgensen (below, after he was shot down) behind enemy lines. With the help of Italian Partisans they all made it back eventually. The picture below shows from the left in the second row: A. E. Farrmond, S. Bill Cope and Reginald Jorgensen. From the left in front row: William McClelland, Geoffrey Long, Edward Brillard "Ted." Reggie is with the British Mission at Pino in the summer of 1944.






These P-47 Thunderbolt escorts from the 79th fighter Group, "Headquarters" Fighter Squadron were photographed from a 340th Bombardment Group B-25J Mitchell.



These P-47 Thunderbolts were photographed at their base on Corsica. The jug in front is from the 79th Fighter Group, 86th Fighter Squadron.



Its accurate strafing of an enemy train in Italy can be seen in this photograph taken by the camera mounted in the wing of a P-47 Thunderbolt.



This great picture was donated by Jarrett Crump whose grandfather, S/Sgt. Eddie A. Little, was a gunner in the 489th Bombardment Squadron. I presume that Eddie Little took this photograph from his B-25 on a mission. That's B-25J 9Q "Solid Jackson" from the 340th Bombardment Group, 489th Bombardment Squadron with a P-51 Mustang escort.


Go on to Planes, Part 20.


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