Us Official Photographs

The U.S. Army's Air Force Dealt a Heavy Blow in Early February, 1943

The U.S. Army's Air Force dealt a heavy blow in early February, 1943, to the airdrome and seaplane base at CAGLIARI, SARDINIA. Striking in broad daylight, Flying Fortresses and Martin Marauder bombers showered the Axis fields with high explosive and fragmentation bombs. Our bombers, protected by Lockheed Lightning fighters, all returned safely. Photo V-44B: The airdrome is now a sea of smoke and flames. Fires are eating at the administration buildings at the southwest corner of the base. Other large fires are raging just south of the runway. Northeast of the airdrome, an ammunition dump has been hit. At the time these pictures were made, only our Fortresses had bombed. Forty-five mintues later, Martin Marauders struck, spreading destruction anew.