On this day in 1943 the port of Bari, Italy was very busy.  The port was a major supply for Allied Army and Air Forces that were pushing the Germans North.  There were 30 ships in the harbor that night.  The port was heavily lit due to the 24 hour unloading operations
 
At 1920, 105 German bombers raided the port and harbor for a little more than an hour.  Two ammunition ships were hit causing a huge blast that shattered windows seven miles.  A fuel pipeline was severed and burning fuel was spread over much of the harbor.  Ships that were not hit directly were soon dealing with fires.  One of these ships was the US Liberty ship John Harvey on a secret mission to delivery two thousand mustard bombs.

 
The John Harvey quickly exploded killing all crew members.  Mustard gas was released into the air and the water.  Those that were attempting to escape other vessels were unknowingly covered.  800 military and merchant mariners were admitted to the hospital.  Within one day 628 of them had become blind and were developing chemical burns.  Soon several hundred civilians poured in.  Hospital staff had a hard time treating patient unaware that the John Harvey had been carrying mustard gas.
 
In the end 17 ships were destroyed!  There were more than 1000 military and merchant marine causalities.  83 of these were due to the mustard gas poisoning.  Civilian causalities were estimated to be over 1000 though it is unknown due to those that fled or were too poor to seek medical attention.  Due to its effects, many referred to this incident as "Little Pearl Harbor".