Pantelleria, Italy. 16 June 1943. Smoke is billowing over the island from bomb explosions during ...

Pantelleria, Italy. 16 June 1943. Smoke is billowing over the island from bomb explosions during the terrific bombardment of enemy defences just before the Italians surrendered. 'One can't walk far in Pantelleria without coming upon deep bomb craters' said a member of the landing party after the island of Pantelleria had surrendered. The damage done by aerial bombardment was terrific. There were holes through the tops of the stout pillboxes. Forts had received direct hits from bombs which had smashed their concrete walls. Heavy coastal guns have been demolished and some of the aircraft smashed by bombs were smothered by stone and broken masonry.