Us Official Photographs

B-25 Mitchell bombers at Tortona

The uncanny accuracy of B-25 Mitchell bombers of Maj. Gen. John K. Cannon's 12th Air Force is seen in this series of photos of the large German supply depot at Tortona, Italy, 50 miles west of Milan. (Upper left) The supply depot before the attack. (Upper right) At the height of the attack by the first wave of B-25's, the target is almost completely obscured by smoke. (Lower left) When the smoke clears away, three-fourths of the buildings are seen to be destroyed. (Lower right) The second wave of B-25 Mitchells drops its bombs in the small area remaining unhit, achieving complete destruction of the target. Note absence of bomb bursts on portion of depot already destroyed, demonstrating how pin-point accuracy makes every bomb count.