Original sentence: Received second DUC for the destruction of a cruiser in the heavily defended harbor of La Spezia on September 23, 1944 before the ship could be used by the enemy to block the harbor's entrance.The 340th Received a Distinguished Unit Citation for the period April–August 1943 when, although handicapped by difficult living conditions and unfavorable weather, the group supported the British Eighth Army in Tunisia and Allied forces in Sicily
Edited sentence: A second DUC was received for the destruction of the Italian light cruiser Taranto in the heavily defended harbor of La Spezia on September 23, 1944 before the ship could be used by the enemy to block the harbor's entrance.Estimated losses were 75-88 B-25 Mitchells from Vesuvius and approximately 60 aircraft from the German air raid.The 340th Bombardment Group probably suffered the loss of more aircraft than any other medium bombardment group during World War II primarily because of two devastating events that occurred in addition to their normal combat losses.The 340th Received a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for the period April–August 1943 when, although handicapped by difficult living conditions and unfavorable weather, the group supported the British Eighth Army in Tunisia and Allied forces in Sicily.The first of these events was the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in March of 1944 when the 340th just happened to be based at Pompeii Airfield near Terzigno, Italy, just a few kilometers from the base of the mountain.The second event was a surprise German air raid of their base at Alesani, Corsica on May 13, 1944