Heavy Damage After Big Allied Air Attack on Naples

Heavy Damage After Big Allied Air Attack on Naples

A reconnaissance photograph showing bomb damage to an industrial area of Naples centred on railway marshalling yard. Extensive bomb craters and damage to the railway yards and surrounding buildings is visible throughout. Ten numbers are marked on the image. On the reverse each number is explained. The descriptions are:
1. Royal Arsenal
2. Torpedo works
3. Railway tracks extensively cratered
4. Freight and passenger train stock damaged and burning
5. Railway engine round house
6. Oil tanks damaged and some burning
7. Factory "destroyed"
8. Tracks severed and large building destroyed
9. Oil factory
10. Engineering and aircraft factory.
The image is intended for publication in newspapers.

1943-07-29

One b/w photograph

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PPappinJ1707, PPappinJ1708

[photograph]

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RELEASE DATE THURSDAY'S DAILIES. JULY 29th 43.

U.S. OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH US. 121. XF
DISTRIBUTED BY THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION.

HEAVY DAMAGE AFTER BIG ALLIED AIR ATTACK ON NAPLES.

More than 500 aircraft bombed the marshalling yards, industrial areas, docks and airfields of Naples in the greatest combined air attack launched against the Axis from Allied bases in North Africa. R.A.F., Wellingtons began the attack in the darkness of early morning. U.S.A.A.F. bombers carried on the daylight attack which lasted more than one and a half hours. Crews observed two tremendous explosions – one from the Royal Arsenal and another from an ammunition train. Smoke from a large oil fire rose 12,000ft into the air.

This picture taken during the attack, shows the damage done to the railroad yards and the surrounding factories.

1. Royal Arsenal. All buildings damaged.
2. Torpedo works. All buildings damaged.
c3. Innumerable craters on tracks, and tracks torn up over a wide area.
4. Freight and passenger trains damaged, destroyed and burning in central area of marshalling yards.
5. Engine round house, carriage sheds, and repair sheds heavily damaged. Many hits on tracks and coal dumps.
6. Oil tanks destroyed and large tanks still burning furiously.
7. Factory destroyed.
8. Tracks severed and large building destroyed at North Exit from marshalling yards.
9. Oleif icio Liguori oil factory apparently out of action.
10. Heavy damage to all buildings of Industriale [sic] [indecipherable words]
E. Aeronautice [sic] (Engineering and aircraft factory).

P.N.A. JULY 27th 43. Tel. No. CEN. 7831.

[underlined] FOR PUBLICATION IN THURSDAY'S DAILIES, JULY 29th 43. US.121. [/underlined]