The Italian Blitz 1940-43 by Worrall Richard; Turner Graham; & Graham Turner

Author:Worrall, Richard; Turner, Graham; & Graham Turner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Published: 2020-02-21T00:00:00+00:00

The return of a 106 Squadron Lancaster crew from the opening raid of the autumn 1942 bombing offensive against Italy, namely Genoa on 22/23 October. The morning light shows this to be about 0700hrs, having taken off some 9½ hours before. Fourth from the right is Australian Plt Off. David Shannon, a future Dambuster with 617 Squadron in May 1943. (Getty Images)

Bomber Command’s second campaign against Italy started from late October 1942. Lasting nearly three months, it comprised 1,809 sorties, with 2,786 tons of bombs being dropped, for the loss of 36 bombers (1.99 per cent). Not surprisingly, the need to stop reinforcements and supplies from reaching the Axis armies in North Africa meant the initial focus was on the port of Genoa, bombed six times between 22/23 October and 15/16 November. These attacks covered both the duration of the battle of El Alamein, which began on 23 October and lasted until 11 November, and the period of the Torch landings from 8 to 16 November.

The opening attack on 22/23 October involved 101 Lancasters of 5 Group, with 11 PFF Lancasters guiding the way. The aiming point was to be illuminated by eight PFF Lancasters using sticks of flares at three-second intervals from 2113 (zero hour) to 2118, by which time the main force had commenced its bombing from different heights. The attack was therefore compressed into just 15 minutes. The force endured poor conditions en route, with thick cloud encountered north of the Alps, but navigation was assisted by the new Southern Gee Chain, used operationally for the first time. As often happened, thick cloud quickly diminished south of the Alps, with the target being completely clear. This, combined with near perfect moonlight, allowed the target-marking to be accurate, and 100 Lancasters (12 had aborted) then accurately bombed the target area, dropping 87.9 tons of HE and 89.2 tons of incendiaries. Night photographs showed concentrated bursts around the aiming point, and large fires – one pilot described it as ‘a miniature Cologne’ – in the city centre, harbour, eastern docks and Ansaldo fitting-out yards, in total some 70 acres being devastated. But Genoa sprawled along the coastline, which meant little damage was inflicted on the western part of the city that contained the main Ansaldo Works and further large dockyards. These key targets would need to be attacked on another occasion, with the aiming point(s) located over them. Whilst Italian air defences were weak and caused Bomber Command no losses, one Lancaster crash-landed due to fuel shortage. The attack had been ‘easy’, but the only loss showed how fuel consumption remained marginal on these long-distance operations.

Harris followed up with a further attack on Genoa the following night, despatching 3 Group’s Stirlings, 4 Group’s Halfaxes and 13 PFF Stirlings; a total force of 122 aircraft. Given the need to bomb other parts of Genoa, Harris chose two different aiming points, namely the old city centre for 3 Group and railway junction near the Ansaldo Works for 4 Group. Such tasks

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