War damage in Messina, Sicily, Italy from bombing by USAAF (United States Army Air Forces) 86th Fighter Bomber Group airplanes during World War 2. American Army technical sergeant offers a cigarette to a uniformed Italian policeman sitting on a bench with him in Messina, Sicily. Closeup of the Italian Policemen smoking the cigarette. In change of scene, the sergeant points to words "Heil Rommel" written on door of a building. He points out other graffiti on walls. He walks past remains of wrecked vehicles, and pauses to look at them as the camera shows them in closeup. View of a U.S. soldier sitting at waterfront, conferring with an armed Italian provisional military policeman wearing a white armband identifying him as such. Italian citizens stand around them. A sunken steamship sits grounded in the background. View of rowboats on the beach and the sunken steamship.
Allied soldiers in a jeep and a British personnel carrier, drive past huge letters, spelling "DUCE," painted on the side of a massive concrete wall in Messina, during World War 2. Change of scene shows American soldier examining an Italian Pavesi military tractor. He is very intested in its unusual wheels. Change of scene shows the soldier climbing into the seat of another Pavesi tractor and checking out its controls. A large building across the street displays a British flag. An American technical sergeant offers an Italian civil policeman a cigarette. A closeup of the policeman as he smokes. The sergeant points to "Heil Rommel" written on a door, and other graffiti in chalk on a wall. He pauses to examine some wrecked Italian vehicles. Closeup of the wreckage.
United States soldiers move in columns into a town during the Invasion of Sicily in World War 2. United States soldiers pass by a nasone (Italian water fountain) while marching in Messina Sicily Italy. United States soldiers examine a map together. Soldiers, as a demolition crew, set up charge in brick wall that is blocking their way. Soldier inserts charge in brick wall hole. Soldiers evacuate before bypass explodes. Explosion and smoke from destruction of wall.
Messina railway station and port in Sicily after bombings done by U.S. Army Air Forces A-36 Invader dive bombers of 86th Fighter Bomber Group during World War II. Damage caused to harbor area with debris outside a building. A painting shows Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini. Interiors of a building. Bombed building and harbor facilities. U.S. soldier stands next to Nazi German NSV sign (National Socialist People's Welfare Organization) identifying a service station. He looks at a booklet, perhaps to translate the sign (bahnhofsdienst). More views of destruction from the bombing.
Scenes of destruction at the Messina harbor and ferry terminal, in Sicily, in the aftermath of attacks by bombers of the U.S. Army Air Forces 86th Fighter Bomber Group in World War 2. Views of destroyed ferry boats. Interior of one ferry, with superstructure beams hanging down, and charts, maps, books, and furniture strewn about and partially underwater. View topside of complete distruction. A sign posted in German warns that photographing of the ferry to and from the port area is strictly prohibited. Destroyed rail cars at the port. Pieces of field artillery mixed with debris. A destroyed ferry slip.
Destroyed trains in railroad marshaling yard at Messina, Sicily, resulting from U.S. Army Air Forces bombing during World War 2. Cracked, broken and destroyed buildings in the city of Messina. Shattered trees and debris-filled areas. Two armed provisional Italian police, wearing white armbands, walk past partially destroyed commercial buildings. They turn and walk toward the camera. Closeups of each, and of armband identifying them as Civil Police, written in English and Italian.