1 B-17 bomber 1,000-1,600 civilians | ||
 | ||
The bombing of Treviso took place on 7 April 1944, during World War II. 159 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress of the United States Army Air Force (escorted by Lockeed P-38 Lightning fighters) dropped over 2,000 bombs during an attack which lasted five minutes (from 1.24 PM to 1.29 PM); the target was the local marshalling yard, but the inaccuracy of the bombing caused most of the bombs to fall all over the city, destroying most of it. Out of 4,600 buildings, 700 were destroyed, 1,100 heavily damaged and 1,962 slightly damaged. A large part of the medieval parts of the city centre were destroyed; the medieval Palazzo dei Trecento, distant only 700 meters from the objective, was partly destroyed. Between 1,000 and 1,600 civilians were killed, including 123 children. The attackers lost one B-17, shot down by anti-aircraft guns of the nearby airport.
As the bombing occurred on Good Friday, fascist propaganda called the day "passion of Christ and of Treviso".
Giuseppe Berto’s novel The Sky is Red and the film with the same name are set during the bombing of Treviso and its aftermath.