Us Official Photographs

Flying Fortresses over Cagliari

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. Photos 2 - 7 WO/28 and 2 - 6 WO/28: This is the way the airdrome and seaplane base looked to a photo reconnaissance plane of the Twelfth Air Force before the raid. At the time these pictures were made, only our Fortresses had bombed. Forty-five minutes later Martin Marauders struck, spreading destruction anew. THEATRE 12 - Cagliari, Sardinia - MEDITERRANEAN AREA