Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, perhaps of 97th Bomb Group, USAAF, bombing Messina, Sicily, summer 1943. Messina, ahead the homonymous Streets, great stratetegic target, note on the right its harbor, was heavily bombed in preparation of Allied invasion of Sicily, Operation Husky, and of the crossing of Straits for passage of Allied forces in continental Italy. Victor Sierra

Flying Fortress over Messina

B-17E formation aircraft of the 379th Bomber Group of the US 525th Bomber Squadron, 24 Jul 1944

 B-17E Formation Aircraft


Summer 1943: the airport of Catania, one the most important airfield of Sicily, under attack of American bomber B-17s Flying Fortress. The Catania's area airports and airstrips, bases of many units of Regia Aeronautica and Luftwaffe,  were important strategic targets of Allied air forces and were heavily bombed in preparation of Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily.  The most part of the Italian and German air forces deployed over the Sicily was destroyed by this heavy raids and the absolute control of the sky was leaved at Allies. Victor Sierra 
