Provided by a friend, a Lt Col ...


"The eruption of Mount Vesuvius on March 22nd, 1944 caused more physical damage to the 340th bombardment group than the German air raid was to inflict two months later at Alesan Air Field on the island of Corsica. Indeed, 88 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers were covered in hot ash which burned off the fabric control surfaces and glazed the Plexiglas. Planes were tipped onto their tails from the weight of the ash. All 88 B-25s were completely totaled."





for the rest of the story, go here:
Mount Vesuvius Eruption


.