World War II bombing of Italian foggia

In May 1943, the Anglo-Americans decided to take the offensive to be able to land in Italy. To achieve this they had to render harmless the Foggia airfields, essential to have control of southern Europe and the Mediterranean. When they started the bombing of Foggia, it was a few days to the fall of fascism and a few months to the signing of the armistice of 3 September at Cassibile, but Foggia will also bombed on September 18. The Anglo-American bombers, departing from the airports of North Africa, then took aim at the airports Foggia, implementing the tactic of carpet bombing on the city of Foggia, allowing them to be even more convincing. Citizens Foggia was not even spared the criminal strafing by enemy aircraft

After the first disastrous air raids, the city of Foggia began to be abandoned by civilians who could do it. Instead stayed on site a large number of civilians militarized as railway workers, postal workers, health workers, firefighters, etc .; the offices of civil territorial government were transferred to safer centers, and when, at the end of September 1943, the Allies entered in our city, they found only destruction.

The captains just conquered, the Allies made a huge airfield and a springboard to win the Second World War.

The Office of Civil Engineers determined that 75% of existing rooms in the bombing were destroyed or uninhabitable as of 1 January 1947.

List the most important raids, the estimated number of victims must be accepted with caution:

May 28: first foray. hour alarm from 11.20 to 13.30 hours from 11.25 to 12.45 incursion in two waves with the launch of disruptive and firebombs from 7000 meters on the airport Gino Lisa. Aircraft involved 18 B24D Liberator of 343 Squadron of the 98th Bomb Group Heavy.
31 May: 12.45 to 14.10 hours Alarm; incursion from 12.45 to 13.30 hours, on the airport Gino Lisa and the railway, victims estimated 153 participants to the attack aircraft: 125 B17F bomber squadrons 340 and 341 of the 97th Heavy Bomb Group with other departments.
June 20 to 21: 23.25 to 0.50 hours alarm, hours 0,44 attack on the railway, victims estimated 91. Presumably intervened only British bomber Halifax
July 15: 14,35 hours alarm foray hours 14,45 for 14 minutes: the airports of Tortorella, San Nicola, the railway area and in various areas of the city, victims estimated 1293. Planes intervened 44 Liberator B 24D squadrons of 328-329-330 -409 of 93 ° Heavy Bomber group.
July 22 from 9.35 to 14.30 hours alarm incursion from 9.35 in two remote waves of 25 minutes: on the railway and the city, victims estimated intervened 7643. Planes Flying Fortresses 71 B.17F of 340 Squadron (10 aircraft ) of the 342 squadron (11 aircraft)
August 19: alarm from 12.00 to 15.30 from 12.00 to foray 13.35 in seven waves on the railroad and the city, victims estimated intervened 9581. Planes: a total of 233 heavy bombers as distinct 71 Liberator B24 D 44 °, 93 °, 376 °, 389 ° and 162 Bomb group B17 Flying Fortresses of 97 ° F bombers and other group.
20 August 0.30 hours on the city, intervened Airline: British Halifax bomber throwing bombs 50.
August 21 hours 0.21: city, estimated 173 victims.
August 25: alarms are not made because of the destroyed plants, foray from 9.45 at 12.10 in five direct waves on the railroad and on airports. Estimated victims 971. Aircraft intervened 276 aircraft so distinct lightening P38 170 fighter bombers and 136 between B17 Flying Fortresses of 340 ° F 341 ° and 342 ° squadrons of the 97th Heavy Bomb Group Liberator B24 and D of 98 ° and 376 ° Heavy Bomb Group and others.
September 7: airports objectives, destroyed many aircraft on the ground. Airline intervened 123 B17 Flying Fortresses.
September 17 Full day: rail and road network, estimated 168 victims.
September 18: aim the two airports, affected mainly the aircraft on the ground. 94 fighter aircraft engaged P38 lightnening. After this incursion Allies believe compromised the situation of the airports of the captains, there will be more raids. Nine days later the Germans retreat.