Mount Vesuvius, the Last Volcanic Eruption

The Most Recent Eruption of the Mt. Vesuvius Volcano

Nov 3, 2009

The Mount Vesuvius eruption in 79 AD destroyed the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. When did Vesuvius last erupt and when is the volcano likely to erupt again?

Mount Vesuvius is one of the better known volcanoes because of its famous eruption in 79 AD that devastated Pompeii and Herculaneum. But since then, the volcano has erupted approximately 50 times or about once every 40 years on average. This trend suggests that Mount Vesuvius could erupt again in the near future. Indeed, it's been over 65 years since the last major eruption. Perhaps this most recent event passed relatively unnoticed because it occurred right in the middle of World War II.

As if there weren't enough bombs exploding all over Italy at that time, Mt. Vesuvius had to create its own pyrotechnic display. Some people believe that the wartime eruption was a sign from the powers that be indicating displeasure with the raging war. Axis Sally, the radio voice of WWII German propaganda, even suggested some divine intervention in favor of the Axis cause.

Last Eruption of Mount Vesuvius

The 340th Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) happened to be stationed at Pompeii Airfield near Terzigno, Italy just a few kilometers from the eastern edge of Mount Vesuvius when the last eruption occurred in March of 1944. The airmen of the 340th and several other USAAF groups were close enough to see some pretty amazing views of the volcano (see photographs). The people of Naples, Italy about 10 kilometers to the west of the mountain, were also afforded excellent views of the eruption.

Tephra and Ash Damage from the Volcanic Fallout

But after the spectacular fireworks, the volcano actually destroyed more of the 340th Bombardment Group's aircraft (estimates vary from 78 to 88) than a devastating German Luftwaffe air raid of their base on the island of Corsica several months later (about 75 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers).

No lives were lost in the 340th after the 1944 eruption but the group was forced to evacuate Pompeii Airfield on March 22nd. They left nearly all of their planes behind with approximately one foot of volcanic ash covering the ground like black snow. The fabric control surfaces, Plexiglass, and engines of many aircraft were severely damaged and some planes were even tipped over from the weight of the ash.

Destruction Caused by Volcanic Lava Flows

Lava flows approaching from the slopes of the mountain posed a separate danger that killed some local people and destroyed the villages of San Sebastiano al Vesuvio, Massa di Somma, Ottaviano, and some of San Giorgio a Cremano. American airmen reported seeing some bodies trapped in the lava flows.

The 79 AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius caused terrible devastation and the most recent eruption in 1944 caused significant damage with some loss of life. Hopefully, the next time Mount Vesuvius erupts the damage won't be very bad, especially for those now living on the slopes of this beautiful mountain.

"Vesuvius", on the website of The Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History Global Volcanism Program,

The copyright of the article Mount Vesuvius, the Last Volcanic Eruption in Volcanoes is owned by Don Kaiser. Permission to republish Mount Vesuvius, the Last Volcanic Eruption in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.