US Army Air Force

Eruption of Vesuvius

The volcano destroyed more of the 340th Bombardment Group's aircraft (estimates vary between 78 and 88) than the devastating German Luftwaffe air raid of the 340th base at Alesani, Corsica on May 13, 1944 (about 75 aircraft). At Pompeii Airfield on March 23, 1944 nearly all of the 340th's B-25 Mitchell medium bombers were covered with hot ash that burned the fabric control surfaces, glazed, melted, or cracked the Plexiglass, and even tipped some B-25s onto their tails from the weight of the ash and tephra.No lives were lost at Pompeii Airfield and the only casualties in the 340th were a sprained wrist and a few cuts, but the effects of the volcano on the aircraft proved insurmountable despite a major effort by the 12th Air Force to repair and salvage the damaged planes. These B-25s from the 447th Squadron of the 321st Bombardment Group passed very near the erupting volcano on their way to bomb targets. _________________________________________________________ March 19, 1944: After a long “sleep” the Vesuvius begin to wake and from 21 until 29 March is in eruption. Medium bombers B-25s from 447th Bomb Squadron of USAAF’s 321st Bombardment Group, based at Gaudo Airfield, near Paestum, passed very near the erupting Vesuvius on their way to bomb targets. Note the huge cloud erupted by volcano rising to 5,000 meters and the great lava flow. At the time at the foot of Vesuvius on Terzigno Airfield is based the 340th Bombardment Group equipped with medium bombers B-25s Mitchell. From diary of Dr. Leander K. Powers which served in Italy during World War II: “Monday, March 19, 1944 - I learned that a stream of lava was flowing down the side toward Naples, so we rode over to see it. It was the most phenomenal thing I have ever witnessed. A huge mass of fiery coals some 20 feet high and 200 yards wide destroying everything in its path. There were many people evacuating their homes, which we saw destroyed as the lava pressed on. At night, the sky and countryside was bright for miles around. Flames were shooting into the sky for thousands of feet” (from web site of 340th Bomb Group). Victor Sierra