Vesuvius and World War II
Naples was bombed repeatedly during World War II by Allied forces. Casualties were high and the city was in shambles. Just prior to the Allied invasion of Naples, the Germans temporarily took control of the city. Atrocities became rampant and in September of 1943 the citizens of Naples decided to take hold of their own destiny and forced the Germans out of the city. Known as the Four Days of Naples, September 26 - 30, 1943 the uprisings were inspired by local citizens and lead by ex-Italian soldiers and street youth. Allied troops entered Naples on October 1, 1943.
By March of 1944, Allied troops had control of Naples but authorities were just starting to deal with the problems that existed in the area. Lack of food, disease, organized crime and extreme destruction due to war-time conditions had taken a big toll on the local population. And then came the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
Pompeii Airfield was constructed in Terzigno by the U.S. Army Air Corp, and was the base for the U.S. 340th Bombardment Group. Within months of the airfield being completed some 80 aircraft were destroyed by hot ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted on March 18, 1944. There were no military casualties but the airfield was destroyed and had to be dismantled and transferred to Paestum.
The eruption was Strombolian-Vulcanian in nature. It was the lava flow produced in this type of eruption which destroyed San Sebastiano, Massa di Somma and Cercola. This first phase lasted from March 18th to the 21st. Starting on the 21st the second phase of the eruption began with fire fountains erupting from the main crater. These fountains produced tephra which fell upon the area surrounding the mountain. The third phase featured more explosive activity, electrical storms and seismic activity.This took place on March 22 - 23rd. From the 23rd to the 30th the fourth and final phase of the eruption was primarily Vulcanian explosions. The eruption ended on March 30th. Responses of the Anglo-American military authorities to the eruption of Vesuvius, March 1944 David K. Chester a,*, Angus M. Duncan b, Philip Wetton c and Roswitha Wetton c
Besides destroying several cities and causing numerous deaths, the eruption caused major problems for the allied command. Ash clogged machinery, troops had to be evacuated out of the danger areas and were assigned to helping the local civilians. The progression of the Allied invasion was delayed.
Mt Vesuvius Erupting in March 1944. Shot by John Reinhardt, B24 tailgunner is the USAAF in WWII
So how did the locals react to the eruption? As always, during times of troubles, religion became important. St. Januarius is the patron saint of Naples and also protects from volcanic eruptions. Three times a year, a vial of congealed blood from the Saint liquifies and bubbles up, denoting a year safe from disasters. In 1939, the blood did not bubble up. Old superstitions were renewed. Rumors abounded about why they were so cursed by such tragic events. But even as the last ounce of angry energy was being wrung from Vesuvius, the local population was beginning the process of rebuilding on the very same slope.
One interesting character of the 1944 eruption was Professor Guiseppi Imbo, the director of the Osservatorio Vesuviano. Months prior to the eruption, Professor Imbo was seeing potential signs of Vesuvius volcanic activity. Although removed from the observatory by Allied forces, he managed to get permission to monitor the eruption.
Professor Imbo and his wife moved into the Observatory during the eruption and was able to obtain a great deal of data regarding the volcano's actions during the eruption. The Osservatorio Vesuviano (founded 1841) in Naples, now a member of the Italian government agency INGV is the oldest volcano observatory in the world.
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| Damaged B25C Mitchell of the US 340th Bombardment Group - Pompeii Airfield (Terzigno, Italy)1944 |
What happens when nature decides to interfere
with monumental human events?
Naples was bombed repeatedly during World War II by Allied forces. Casualties were high and the city was in shambles. Just prior to the Allied invasion of Naples, the Germans temporarily took control of the city. Atrocities became rampant and in September of 1943 the citizens of Naples decided to take hold of their own destiny and forced the Germans out of the city. Known as the Four Days of Naples, September 26 - 30, 1943 the uprisings were inspired by local citizens and lead by ex-Italian soldiers and street youth. Allied troops entered Naples on October 1, 1943.
By March of 1944, Allied troops had control of Naples but authorities were just starting to deal with the problems that existed in the area. Lack of food, disease, organized crime and extreme destruction due to war-time conditions had taken a big toll on the local population. And then came the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
Pompeii Airfield was constructed in Terzigno by the U.S. Army Air Corp, and was the base for the U.S. 340th Bombardment Group. Within months of the airfield being completed some 80 aircraft were destroyed by hot ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted on March 18, 1944. There were no military casualties but the airfield was destroyed and had to be dismantled and transferred to Paestum.
The eruption was Strombolian-Vulcanian in nature. It was the lava flow produced in this type of eruption which destroyed San Sebastiano, Massa di Somma and Cercola. This first phase lasted from March 18th to the 21st. Starting on the 21st the second phase of the eruption began with fire fountains erupting from the main crater. These fountains produced tephra which fell upon the area surrounding the mountain. The third phase featured more explosive activity, electrical storms and seismic activity.This took place on March 22 - 23rd. From the 23rd to the 30th the fourth and final phase of the eruption was primarily Vulcanian explosions. The eruption ended on March 30th. Responses of the Anglo-American military authorities to the eruption of Vesuvius, March 1944 David K. Chester a,*, Angus M. Duncan b, Philip Wetton c and Roswitha Wetton c
Besides destroying several cities and causing numerous deaths, the eruption caused major problems for the allied command. Ash clogged machinery, troops had to be evacuated out of the danger areas and were assigned to helping the local civilians. The progression of the Allied invasion was delayed.
Mt Vesuvius Erupting in March 1944. Shot by John Reinhardt, B24 tailgunner is the USAAF in WWII
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So how did the locals react to the eruption? As always, during times of troubles, religion became important. St. Januarius is the patron saint of Naples and also protects from volcanic eruptions. Three times a year, a vial of congealed blood from the Saint liquifies and bubbles up, denoting a year safe from disasters. In 1939, the blood did not bubble up. Old superstitions were renewed. Rumors abounded about why they were so cursed by such tragic events. But even as the last ounce of angry energy was being wrung from Vesuvius, the local population was beginning the process of rebuilding on the very same slope.
One interesting character of the 1944 eruption was Professor Guiseppi Imbo, the director of the Osservatorio Vesuviano. Months prior to the eruption, Professor Imbo was seeing potential signs of Vesuvius volcanic activity. Although removed from the observatory by Allied forces, he managed to get permission to monitor the eruption.
Professor Imbo and his wife moved into the Observatory during the eruption and was able to obtain a great deal of data regarding the volcano's actions during the eruption. The Osservatorio Vesuviano (founded 1841) in Naples, now a member of the Italian government agency INGV is the oldest volcano observatory in the world.
A quote taken from the April 17, 1944 LIFE magazine, from the director of the Mount Vesuvius Observatory at the time of the 1944 eruption, in which Professor Imbo gave a more positive Italian viewpoint of Vesuvius:
“A marvelous thing, my Vesuvius. It covers land with precious ash that makes the earth fertile and grapes grow, and wine. That’s why, after every eruption, people rebuild their homes on the slopes of the volcano. That is why they call the slopes of Vesuvius the compania felix — the happy land.”
Watch for next week's post which will continue the story of Mount Vesuvius.
Watch for next week's post which will continue the story of Mount Vesuvius.
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