An expressive picture of devastation caused to 340th Bomb Group on Terzigno Airfield by the Vesuvius eruption. According the sources the B-25s destroyed by the volcanic ash and lapillus were about eighty. Few planes were repaired, but the majority was lost irreparably. Victor Sierra

Vesuvius eruption: the day after

An American bomber B-24D Liberator of 15th Air Force flying in front to a snow-capped Vesuvius at beginning of 1944. The volcano seems sleeping, but the first signals of renewal of eruptive activity date back from previous year. The warnings of Vesuvian Observatory remains unheeded and even the Americans build a landing strip at the foot of volcano! Victor Sierra

The Vesuvius sleeping…

May 1945: a B-25J of USAAF’s 340th Bomb Group of 486th Bomb Squadron over flying the Vesuvius returned quiet after the terrible eruption of March 1944. The conflict in Europe is ceased but the war is still going in Pacific like remembering the writing "Finito Benito Next Hirohito" on the wing of this plane based at Naples with the 12th Air Force. Victor Sierra