Bombings on the Tuscan coast
 

Hello everyone , I would like , if possible , information on some bombing that occurred on the Tuscan coast . Especially the area that goes from Livorno to Piombino . I have found some dates and some facts , but I would like to know more. I hope you can help me with photos, documents or other.


Mid June 1944 locations Nibbiaia falls an American plane piloted by major John Ernest Kulik .

January 20, 1944 Allied bombing from Cecina to Castiglioncello

March April 1944 Allied bombing of Vada and Rosignano Solvay and Castiglioncello

1-2 May 1944 Two groups of 6:12 Flying Fortresses destroy the bridges on Calafuria and Fine river and all the bridges , you save the tower .

14 to 15 1944 June bombing of Rosignano, Vada and Castiglioncello

Re: Bombings on the Tuscan coast
 

http://www.milhist.net/usaaf/mto44a.html

http://www.milhist.net/usaaf/mto44b.html

Re: Bombings on the Tuscan coast
 

The pilot's name was Ernest John Kulik (not John Ernest Kulik).

He was a career Air Force officer and died in 2000.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg...&GRid=49242594



see this link:
http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/f...t.asp?id=11764

He was a First Lieutenant USAAF, 379th Bomb Squadron, 310th Bomb Group (flying B-25J 43-4098), based on Corsica. He was shot down on 10 June 1944 at 11:47 on a mission to bomb a bridge (RR bridge at Calafuria). The plane was hit by flak in the left wing behind the engine and immediately caught fire. The plane left the formation and crashed. The last seen location is given as Q-0541. The tail gunner bailed out but his chute caught fire. Kulik may have been the only other one to successfully bail out. At least two others also bailed out but their chutes were also on fire. Kulik was the only survivor from his crew. The other five crewmen were buried near Leghorn (Livorno). Kulik was apparently captured?, but subsequently escaped and evaded. The MACR is 5828.

Other crewmen: CoP: Robert Damon; Bomb: Alexander D Allen; Radio Opr-Gunner: Irving H Ross; Gunner: Willard J Archambeau; Tail-Gunner: Clarence I Knobeloch.

The MACR includes a summary page from his E&E report, which is dated July 13, 1944, so by that date he had RTD (returned to duty). In it he states that after he gave the bail out order he remained in his seat for about a minute as the copilot left his seat, the plane rolled over at went into a dive. Kulik had lost all communication with the crew as the inter-phone was out. The plane was burning as it went down and crashed and exploded on the ground.

For those with fold3 access, MACR starts at: http://www.fold3.com/image/28626948/

You may be able to order a copy of his papers from AFHRA and also a copy of his Escape and Evasion report.

His name is mentioned in these two links about partisan activity, (In Italian). It appears that he was aided in his escape.

http://ricerca.gelocal.it/iltirreno/...7PO_JXXAA.html

http://ricerca.gelocal.it/iltirreno/...6PO_JXXZZ.html

Re: Bombings on the Tuscan coast
 

The last location given as Q0541 (really wQ0541 on the North Italy Zone map used at the time) would "translate" to 43.4976, 10.35038 on Google maps.


Here is a photo of the the RR bridge at Calafuria after it was destroyed.

http://www.fold3.com/image/39009636/

http://www.fold3.com/image/39009646/

Another photo showing the tower still standing.

http://www.fold3.com/image/39016488/

http://www.fold3.com/image/39016496/

You can find the location on Google Maps at: 43.471941, 10.333857

The Satellite view of the bridge today is linked below. Note the little inlet to the right of the bridge inlet is visible in the satellite view and the same dark "patch" (shadow?) that runs up the hill is also visible. You can zoom in and drag the image around.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/57...bfd41bcbc381dd


There are many photos which can be viewed and downloaded for free here:
http://www.fold3.com/title_495/wwii_..._force_photos/

Search using the individual names of the towns you listed above or the names such as Leghorn that the AF used at the time.