Frascati bombing raid September 8, 1943
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September 8, 1943 is the date of a bombing raid of USAAF planes against Frascati, a historical town near Rome, Italy. The target was the German General Headquarters for the Mediterranean zone (O.B.S.) and the Italian headquarters, scattered in buildings and Villas nearby the town.
131 USAAF aircraft (B-17G Flying Fortress) carried out a selective-bombing from height altitude because the aircraft were equipped with the modern laying control system "Norden". The order of flight was:
- 1) 99th Bomb Group with n. 32 F.F. B17 - 5,500 m (18,000 feet).
- 2) 301st Bomb Group with n. 36 F.F. B17 - 6,000 m (20,000 feet).
- 3) 97th Bomb Group with n. 35 F.F. B17 - 5,500 m (18,000 feet).
- 4) 2nd Bomb Group with n. 28 F.F. B17 - 6,000 m (20,000 feet).
The General Doolittle operation order of 7 September 1943 was: Intentions for September eight heavies will destroy town of Frascati - This target is important and must be destroyed.
The aircraft headed for Littoria (modern Latina) and Monte Cavo (Alban Hills), they arrived on Frascati at 10 minutes past 12 p.m. Their target was Field Marshal Albert Kesselring and his staff.
The anti-aircraft defence was equipped with heavy anti-aircraft guns of 88/56 mm and machineguns of 37/20 mm, which they had placed on Tuscolo ridge and terraces in the town reinforced with cement pillars to stand the recoils.
The Italian Royal Air Force (Regia Aeronautica) engaged about thirty aircraft fighters, some of anachronistic biplane Fiat CR.42, some of Macchi C.200, some of Fiat G.50, some of Reggiane Re.2001, two Fiat G.55 and some of Macchi C.202. This was the last mission of Regia Aeronautica because after the Armistice with the allied, this armed force had divided into two parts. The German Air Force (Luftwaffe) engaged some of Messerschmitt Bf 109. Overall, one Allied aircraft was destroyed, a B-17 of 97th Bomber Group and 36 fighter attacking were destroyed in air.
About of 50% of the buildings, many of the monuments and villas were destroyed. St. Pietro square was destroyed, however, the Cathedral facade remained undamaged.
After a few days, Field Marshal Kesselring and his military headquarters moved to Monte Soratte.
Field Marshal Kesselring later wrote in his memoir's about his experience on September 8. He called it the "day of Italian treason". In fact, the Italians were not present at the German headquarters at the time of the bombing raid. On September 3, 1943 the Italians were alerted by the Allied forces of the bombing raid during their peace talks about their ultimate surrender. These Italian generals and the Savoy royal dignitaries, six days later fled to the port of Ortona, located near Pescara.
The news of the Italian armistice with the Allies reached Frascati at 7:45 pm, September 8, 1943. The townspeople who, less than 24 hours beforehand had been hiding in bomb shelters, were now fleeing south to escape the occupation of the German army (Wehrmacht Heer). The townspeople had no time to clean up debris and bury their dead. As a result, the German armed forces (Wehrmacht) declared the area as an "infected area" and had plans to eliminate the city using flamethrowers. The remaining citizens, however, had found out about the German plan to raze the city, and worked to bury their dead. In total, 485 civilians were victims of the allied raid.
