This photograph, taken from a reconnaissance plane, shows some of the damage to the Italian port of Naples caused by 500 Allied bombers in the greatest combined air attack up to that time by Allied air squadrons operating against the Axis from bases in North Africa. In the attack, launched in early morning darkness by R.A.F. Wellingtons and continued through one and a half hours of daylight by U.S.A.A.F. bombers, crows observed tremendous explosions as the Royal Arsenal was blown up with destruction or damage to all its buildings. All buildings of the torpedo works and of an ammunition train was blasted to bits. Further damage is indicated by other numerals as follows: (3) railroad tracks torn up, with craters clearly visible; (4) freight and passenger trains damaged, destroyed and burning in the central area of the marshalling yards; (5) an engine roundhouse and carriage and repair sheds heavily damaged, with countless hits on tracks and cool dumps; (6) oil tanks destroyed, with fires still burning furiously; (7) a factory destroyed; (8) tracks broken and large buildings destroyed at the north exit from the Naples marshalling yards, and (9) an oil factory heavily damaged.
Unknown photographer<span style="display: none;">Unknown photographer</span>
1941
IMS Vintage Photos