First Major Allied Bomber Attack At Cassino

 Exceptional and rare air photo of an American USAF Boeing B17 heavy bomber climbing out of its attacking run after being part of the controversial destruction of the 1100 year old Abbey of Monte Cassino. Being the first of 2 huge air bomber raids on Cassino and given the approximate combined 110,000 Allied personnel in very close proximity to the Cassino monastery the accuracy of the drop of 576 tons of HE must have been a concern.

Although half of the 1 square mile township of Cassino was incorrectly demolished in this first Monastery raid, later on the 15th of March in further Allied desparation "Operation Dickens" was launched to completely destroy the town of Cassino in an attempt to extract the German occupation.1400 tons of HE was dropped over a 4 hour period and then another 4 hours of accurate pulverising artillery devastation, destroying all constructions. Cassino was completely laid waste and still remained fiercely contested by the German Regiments.

This monastary USAF attack actually took place two days earlier than General Freyberg and Major-General Tuker (4th Indian Div) of the NZ CORPS command had planned as the availability of the heavy and medium bombers was in high demand, but also a perfect weather window had presented itself. This catching some by surprise and mostly the 4th Indian Division who were waiting on the slopes within an aggreed safe bomb line to attack the Abbey directly after the bombing run finished. Although orders were given to all Personnel to withdraw to a safe distance some mistaken casualties were suffered. Civilians also sustained collateral casualties regardless of every reasonable effort made including the NZ Divisional artillery firing 200 rounds of leaflets over the Abbey warning all to get out and stay out, although without precise disclosure.

It was a beautifully clear and sunny winter day with no combat activity at all and the many nearby Kiwis didnt have to wait long to see the first of many waves of bombers attacking the Abbey. What a box seat they had to view this spectacular day time raid as the lead "trigger marker" of the 27 first wave B17 bombers flown by USAF pilot Capt. Bradford Evans released control of his aircraft to air bombadier First Lt. James W. Harbin who released the first bomb load triggering the other 26 simultaneously at 09:28 hrs on the 15th of February 1944.

The real question then of course is..did this controversial air campaign achieve a purposeful objective?

Reference:

USAF File, Denis Clough archive

Submitter:
Submitted by aircrew on

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