Monday, June 17, 2013

Target: Leghorn

The pink bomb by Valerio Michelucci and Stefano Pilato, via Sant'Omobono, Livorno
The pink bomb suspended in Via Sant'Omobono is a work of Valerio Michelucci and Stefano Pilato and was placed to remember the 70th anniversary of the first Allied bombing of Livorno on May 28th, 1943. It was the first of a long series of air raids that obliterated the city center, destroyed the port and blew up the refineries, causing hundreds of civilian casualties.
The laconic comment on a bomb tag, saved by a crew member of a B-17, says: “Went to Leghorn, north of Rome, farthest we've gone yet. Blew up oil refinery and docks, light flak and only about five fighters.”

External links: Mission 41: May 28, 1943; Target: Leghorn
See also: Bombs on the Cover - The Bomb
More by Michelucci & Pilato: Cico Cico on the Trees - Here We Are

10 comments:

Traveling Hawk said...

Interesting info, V.P.!

Michelle said...

Intriguing information!

Hilda said...

As if dropping a bomb was nothing to him.

cieldequimper said...

If dropping a bomb had been something to him and all the others, who knows what would have become of Europe.

It's funny that the bomb should be pink and it's a nice way to remember.

Dina said...

Both of your photos make me shudder.
God help us all.
My father was one of those Yankee bomber pilots bombing Axis oil refineries, albeit not in Italy, thankfully.

VP said...

ciel - I agree completely with you...

Halcyon said...

Such a sad time, for many reasons. And such senseless destruction.

Unknown said...

This is very powerful!

Stefan Jansson said...

The horror of war.

Merisi said...

Poignant reminder of the senselessness and cruelty of war! So many city centers, Vienna included, bombed, civilians killed, cultural heritage destroyed by allied bombings.