1943 Naples post office bombing

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The 1943 Naples post office bombing occurred on October 7, 1943, after the U.S. Fifth Army had captured Naples (October 1) and reached the Volturno River (October 6). 100 people, including women, children and members of a 82nd Airborne Division unit died as the result of the explosion. The unit was commanded by General Matthew B. Ridgway. An investigation determined that a time bomb planted by the Nazis six days beforehand was the root cause of the explosion.

A reporter from the Time and Life magazines, Will Lang Jr., was no more than 300 feet from the explosion when it occurred. The shockwave threw him to the ground, and the impact sprained his right arm. A photographer for the LIFE magazine, Robert Capa, and Acme News photographer Charles Corte began taking pictures of the shattered Post Office and the carnage lying in the streets. One of the physicians on hand was Brigadier General Edgar Hume whose office was across the street from the post office.