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<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}<br />
{{Infobox military operation<br />
|name =<br />
|partof = [[strategic bombing during World War II]]<br />
|image = File:Royal Air Force- Italy, the Balkans and South-east Europe, 1942-1945. CNA1031.jpg<br />
|image_upright =<br />
|alt =<br />
|caption = George Westlake, responsible for the success of ''Bowler'', carrying a cask of wine<br />
|scope =<br />
|type = aerial bombardment<br />
|location = [[Venice]], [[Italy]]<br />
|coordinates =<br />
|map_type =<br />
|map_size =<br />
|map_caption =<br />
|map_label =<br />
|planned =<br />
|planned_by =<br />
|commanded_by = [[George Westlake]]<br />
|objective =<br />
|target = {{Flagcountry|Nazi Germany}}<br />
|date = 21 March 1945<br />
|time =<br />
|time-begin =<br />
|time-end =<br />
|timezone =<br />
|executed_by = {{GBR}}<br />
|outcome = Success<br />
|casualties =<br />
|fatalities =<br />
|injuries =<br />
|campaignbox ={{Campaignbox Spring 1945 offensive in Italy}}<br />
{{Campaignbox Italy}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Operation Bowler''' was an air attack on [[Venice]] harbour by [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] aircraft on 21 March 1945, as part of the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian campaign]] of the [[Second World War]]. It was led by Acting [[Wing commander (rank)|Wing Commander]], later [[Group Captain]], [[George Westlake]] of the [[Royal Air Force]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1508776/Group-Captain-George-Westlake.html | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | title=Group Captain George Westlake | date=26 January 2006 | access-date=20 May 2022}}</ref><br />
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By early 1945, the rail and road networks of northern Italy had sustained severe damage, forcing the Germans to resort to shipping goods into Venice and then moving them from there along rivers and canals. An attack on the city's harbour was thus deemed necessary by Allied command, although the risk of damage to the city's architectural and artistic treasures was high, as it had been in other battles of the Italian campaign, such as [[Battle of Monte Cassino]]. The operation was planned to be extremely precise to avoid any such damage and was named Operation Bowler by Air Vice-Marshal [[Robert Foster (RAF officer)|Robert Foster]], as a reminder to those involved that they would be "bowler hatted" (returned to civilian life) or worse should Venice itself be damaged.<br />
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Having assessed the weather, Westlake led the attack in a [[Curtiss P-40]] Kittyhawk from [[No. 250 Squadron RAF]], part of [[No. 239 Wing RAF]], which was composed of Kittyhawk and [[P-51 Mustang|Mustang]] squadrons and specialised in dive-bombing operations. The fighters attacked the gun defences of the docks and, that done, the bombers then dived in to attack almost vertically to ensure precision, with civilian observers feeling safe enough to climb on the city's rooftops to observe the attack and with the only architectural damage being no more than a few broken windows.<br />
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The attack sank the {{ship|German torpedo boat|TA42||6}} (ex Italian ''Alabarda''),<ref>[http://www.german-navy.de/kriegsmarine/captured/torpedoboats/ta/ta42/index.html TA42]</ref> two merchant ships as well as naval escorts and smaller vessels. It seriously damaged a large cargo ship and destroyed five warehouses, an Axis mine stockpile (blowing a 100-yard hole in the quayside) and other harbour infrastructure, such as an underwater training establishment for [[frogman|frogmen]] and [[human torpedo]]es.<br />
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Westlake was recognised soon afterwards, awarded the [[Distinguished Service Order]] for "excellent leadership, great tactical ability and exceptional determination", having already won the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] in 1942 for continuous gallantry in around 300 operational sorties.<br />
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==Notes==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
* {{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/nov/27/second-world-war-venice|title=Medals of wartime air ace who led Venice attack up for sale|first=Steven|last=Morris|date=27 November 2008|access-date=2008-11-27 | work=The Guardian | location=London}}<br />
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{{coord missing|Italy}}<br />
{{Authority control}}<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bowler, Operation}}<br />
[[Category:Conflicts in 1945]]<br />
[[Category:World War II operations and battles of the Italian Campaign]]<br />
[[Category:History of Venice after 1797]]<br />
[[Category:Aerial bombing operations and battles]]<br />
[[Category:Aerial operations and battles of World War II involving the United Kingdom]]<br />
[[Category:Battles of World War II involving the United States]]<br />
[[Category:Battles of World War II involving Italy]]<br />
[[Category:1945 in Italy]]<br />
[[Category:March 1945 events]]<br />
[[Category:1940s in Venice]]</div>Bot