This Date in History : April 06th.1945
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B25c Mitchell "Bats Out of Hell"




On 6 April 1945, 499th.Bomb Squadron, 345th.Bomber Group pilot Lieutenant Francis Thompson
dove his bat-nosed North American B-25J Mitchell toward an IJN Kaiboken-class frigate, Coast Defense Vessel No. 134,
in the Formosa Strait 30 miles southwest of Amoy.

Lt.Thompson, piloting one of 24 B-25's managed only to strafe in this low altitude, mast-height, daylight attack
as he was crowded out by his wingman who scored a near miss and did probable damage to the frigate's stern,
and by the explosion of a delay-fused 500-pound bomb that had been dropped by the flight leader.
Here Lt.Thompson's "Bats Out of Hell" pulled out of it's attack, in this fast and furious battle, of which,
by harrowing example, of many other low level dangerous missions
that took the lives of some 700 men from the four squadrons of the 345th.Bomber Group.

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354th.Bomb Group in World War II



Activated on 11 November 1942, at Columbia Army Air Base, South Carolina, by Third Air Force order #275.
Four squadrons designated 498, 499, 500, 501 were assigned to it. The 345th started with 40 officers and 350 enlisted men,
commanded by then Col. Jarred V. Crabb. Full strength, the 345th would contain 250 officers and 1250 enlisted men.
At Columbia and other training bases, the group trained for overseas duty with B-25 Mitchell medium bombers.

Moved to New Guinea, via Australia, April-June 1943, and assigned to Fifth Air Force.
Entered combat on 30 June 1943. Operations until July 1944 included bombing and strafing Japanese airfields
and installations in New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago; attacking shipping in the McCluer Gulf, Ceram Sea,
and Bismarck Sea; supporting ground forces in the Admiralties; dropping supplies to ground troops; and flying courier
and reconnaissance missions in the area.
The 345th.Bomb Group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for a series of attacks against flak positions,
shore installations, and barracks at Rabaul, New Britain, on 2 November 1943. Operated from Biak, July-November 1944,
striking airfields and shipping in the southern Philippines and the Celebes.
In November 1944 moved to the Philippines where targets included Japanese airfields and communications on Luzon,
industries and communications on Formosa, and shipping along the China coast.
After moving to Ie Shima in July 1945, flew some missions over Kyushu and the Sea of Japan.



The 345th Bomb Group was selected to escort the Japenese surrender party from Japan to Ie Shima.
The unit returned to the United States in December 1945 and deactivated on 29th December 1945.

Cheers mates
David