Mount Vesuvius: eruption 1944

Discussion in 'Italy' started by jwp59, Aug 13, 2008.

  1. jwp59

    jwp59 Member

    Was looking for information on the eruption of 1944 as i seem to remember my father saying they were involved in the evacuation of civilians in the affected areas i came across this site which has some good pictures of the USAF 340TH Bomber group's B-25's damaged by the eruption which may be of interest to forum members.
    cheers,
    John.

    The Mount Vesuvius Eruption of March 1944
     
  2. Gerard

    Gerard Seelow/Prora

    John, thats a really interesting link you put up there. Thanks for that! I wonder was anyone killed or injured?
     
  3. jwp59

    jwp59 Member

    Looks like just a few minor injuries were sustained by the USAF but 88 B-25s were wrecked.
     
  4. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    JWP59

    In March '44 I was hospitalised down to Naples and arrived in the city while the volcano's eruption was at its peak.

    I mentioned it in an article I posted to the BBC WW2 Archives:
    BBC - WW2 People's War - Two Weeks in Dock in Naples and Not a Wound to Show for it!

    The salient para is: "When we arrived at Naples the city was covered in a grey ash as Vesuvius had chosen that month to erupt for the first time in I don’t know how many years."

    What I remember the most is the scene after dusk when the volcano created its own electrical storm and lightning was actually hitting the top of the easily seen summit.

    Most unusual :)

    Ron
     
    ypres5 and jwp59 like this.
  5. jwp59

    jwp59 Member

    Ron,
    thanks for sharing your memories, most interesting and another great link,
    kind regards,
    John.
     
  6. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  7. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Some articles from The Times:
     

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  8. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    last ones ..
     

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  9. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    From IG History, FitzGerald:

    While the Great Men discussed the future of the Brigade of Guards in Italy - amalgamation, integration, reduction, abolition or reinforcement - the Battalion collected its wounded from every hospital in Southern Italy and Sicily. The bad cases were assembled in Naples General Hospital; the men on the mend were posted Sorrento convalescent camp and then, since there was very little difference, to Santa Agata. Vesuvius erupted soon after the Battalion’s arrival, the grey lava dust turning the next day into night, blocking the roads and changing the green valleys into a landscape of the moon. “It‘s the end of the world - it would be just before Paddy’s Day.”
     
  10. andalucia

    andalucia Senior Member

    Im sure I read about something happening to the Volcano in one of Spike Milligans books?
     
  11. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    dbf

    Many, many thanks for giving me/us sight of those press cuttings about the eruption of Vesuvious.

    I was particularly interested in the dates and went back to my Army Records to see how they tallied.

    If you look below you will see that I was admitted to the 93rd General Hospital at Naples on the 17th of March, just when the eruption was at its "best".

    The "joke" is that during my stay we were bombed by the Luftwaffe after dark (see my earlier posting on the BBC) and what with Vesuvious pumping away we didn't know whether to look at the volcano or duck under our beds :(

    What did they used to say "Join the Army and see the world ?"

    Happy memories :)
     

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  12. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    You're welcome
     
  13. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    In Nov 43, American Army trucks parked next to the St. Lucia fountain during WWII. (Mount Vesuvius visible in bkgd.)
    http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/bdd1a6c9662c1c30_landing

    April '44, People fleeing through dusty streets after the eruption of Mt. Vesuvus.
    http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/a7267c736b66bd8b_landing
     
  14. Rory

    Rory Junior Member

    Hi

    I don't mean to hijack this thread but, by pure chance, I obtained a group of medals to a Lt. or Major (family are unsure..) Owen Tom Ashton who they claim saved lives at the foot of Mt. Vesuvius when it erupted in '44.

    He is reported to have received a special medal from the Italian authorities but this is missing.

    Is anyone able to verify the story and are there any articles on the man?

    Any help would be appreciated.

    Regards

    Rory
     
  15. urqh

    urqh Senior Member

    Im sure I read about something happening to the Volcano in one of Spike Milligans books?

    You did..I cant remember which one either..he was on a lone visit to pompei recovering..went on in hillarious fashion about the pompeins fixation for...crude emblems...fell out of me own hospital bed reading it a few months ago.
     
  16. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

  17. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Just hope it - the Icelandic blow - goes away by the time I land at Heathrow on May 1st as I too recall the blow at Vesuvius - and this is right on the flight path from Vancouver !
    Cheers
     
  18. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

  19. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  20. rickles23

    rickles23 Member

    Hi,
    My Dad was over there when the volcano let loose in WW2 and on a tape he said " I come running out of the pub and knocked over another sailor. I helped him up and it was James, a relative."

    I have changed a few words as they were a bit risque for the Forum.

    Regards
     

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