Italian Bombing Attacks Nov-Dec 40
 

Can anyone point me in the direction of a good source for information on the bombing raids carried out against East Coast targets by BR 20s Nov-Dec 40? I have John Foreman's book by the way before anyone mentions that

Re: Italian Bombing Attacks Nov-Dec 40
 

I have a report headed 'Italian IB's and HE's droppod in the Borough of Ipswich at 1750hrs On 21st.Dec. 1940' and ARP report for the same raid. Is this of use.
Also this site http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/falco_bob.htm

Regards

Brian Bines

Re: Italian Bombing Attacks Nov-Dec 40
 

Chris

I dont know how reliable it is, but I think I have somewhere what seemed to be a comprehensive article written by Chris Elliott for Flying Review (??) back in the 1960's. It had quite a bit of stuff I hadn't seen and was in some residual bits of archive that came my way from the collection of the late Bruce Robertson. I will TRY to find it in the post garage conversion chaos!

Re: Italian Bombing Attacks Nov-Dec 40
 

Chris:

Stephen Webb in Worthing was doing quite a bit of research into this subject in 2005. PM me if you would like to contact him.

Also, I have quite a bit of gen on the 29 Nov 1940 Lowestoft raid which resulted in (what we believe were) the only deaths caused through Italian bombing in the UK in WW 2.

BC

Re: Italian Bombing Attacks Nov-Dec 40
 

Brian/BC/Andy: Thanks. I will be in touch

Re: Italian Bombing Attacks Nov-Dec 40
 

IIRC there was an article by Nicolo Malizia in "Fly Past" some years ago (which I may still have somewhere) about Corpo Aereo Italiano. Also there's something in Francis K. Mason's "Battle Over Britain."

And maybe "Air Raid" by Michael Bowyer, which was about the air war over East Anglia.

Re: Italian Bombing Attacks Nov-Dec 40
 

Hello Chris,

I saw that my site was mentioned but I would also like to mention J. P. Foynes own published "The Battle of the East Coast (1939-1945)" from 1994 which has a couple pages about this.

Best wishes/Håkan

Re: Italian Bombing Attacks Nov-Dec 40
 

Hi Chris

There's also the Peter Haining book 'The Chianti Raiders'. I note that Amazon have it at less than a fiver!

Cheers
Brian

Re: Italian Bombing Attacks Nov-Dec 40
 

Thanks all. Of interest, I have:
5-6 Nov (Ipswich), 10-11 Nov (Ramsgate), 11 Nov (convoy), 17-18 Nov (Harwich), 20 Nov (Norwich), 27-28 Nov (Ipswich), 29-30 Nov (Lowestoft/Harwich/Yarmouth/Ipswich-matches with BC's report of deaths-Edward Greengrass, William Nunn & George Wright)
5-6 Dec (Ipswich), 13-14 Dec (Harwich), 21-22 Dec (Harwich/Ipswich), 22-23 Dec (Harwich)

Re: Italian Bombing Attacks Nov-Dec 40
 

The more comprehensive italian printed source about the italian air activity over England is the book written by the late Gen. Corrado Ricci "Il Corpo Aereo Italiano sul fronte della Manica", printed in 1980 by the Italian AF Ufficio Storico.
Even though it doesn't contain details about MM or the names of the crews, it gives an account of all the missions flown by the italian bombers with details like bombs dropped and losses.

The history of the 13° Stormo BT written by Francesco Romanelli, printed in 1978 by Ufficio Storico, contains all details about the activity of this unit.

Best regards

Gianandrea

Re: Italian Bombing Attacks Nov-Dec 40
 

A Dutch language publication by Belgian air historian Cynrik De Decker "Corpo Aero Italiano - The Italian Air Force in Belgium 1940-1941" also mentions three missions in October 1940: 24/25 Oct (Harwich), 27 Oct (Ramsgate) and 29 Oct (Ramsgate).
Last mission was on 2/3 Jan 41 (Ipswich).


Regards,

Leendert

Re: Italian Bombing Attacks Nov-Dec 40
 

Hi Chris,
I have some Black and white footage of the aftermath of the raid. It was sent to me some time ago by Bob Stanford-Tucks son. It is not very 'pc' but is enjoyable none the less.
Drop me a line at gedburke3@yahoo.co.uk and I will forward it in. (File too big to place on here.)
Gerry

Re: Italian Bombing Attacks Nov-Dec 40
 

By the way - the offer is open to all if you want to see it.
Gerry

Re: Italian Bombing Attacks Nov-Dec 40
 

Gianandrea
Thanks for the most useful pointers but I think now I have all I need in respect of who flew what and when.
Leendert
According to what I have, last mission was 22-23 Dec as by 3 Jan 41, they had departed
Ged
Will be in touch

Re: Italian Bombing Attacks Nov-Dec 40
 

Chris,

I've looked up the 2/3 Jan 41 mission again in De Decker's book.

It says 4 BR.20's of 13° Stormo had taken off from Melsbroek for an attack on Ipswich.

Two however experienced technical problems while still over Belgium and they returned to base.
The remaining two were greeted with heavy AA fire over the English coast and the crews decided to return as well...

Indeed, no accomplished mission that day anymore!

Regards,

Leendert

Re: Italian Bombing Attacks Nov-Dec 40
 

Hello,

This was very interesting info. I've (as Chris also states) never heard about a bombing mission flown on 2/3 January since the bombers were suposed to have departed by then.

Gianandrea - what does Ricci's books says about this?
BTW - do you know any source to obtain this book?

Best wishes/Håkan

Re: Italian Bombing Attacks Nov-Dec 40
 

According to the book written by Gen. Ricci, four BR.20 from 13° Stormo took off on 2 january in order to fly a mission against Ipswich harbour. They should have operate separately. Two came back following failures; the action of the two remaining bombers was disturbed by searchlights and by intense AAA. One nigth fighter was observed. No bomb dropping mentioned.

According to the history of the 13° Stormo the target was Harwich harbour. Bombers took off on late afternoon. Both the bombers that came back had failures at the landing gear retraction system. The two other BR.20M dropped, from 5.000-5.500 m., twenty 100 kg. bombs, ten of them being incendiary bombs. Good visibility above the target allowed an accurate and effective bomb launch.
A further bombing mission with eigth BR.20M from 13° Stormo was planned on 9 january 1941, with the same target. Two aircraft took off at 7.00 pm
but the action was suspended and the aircraft were recalled.

43° Stormo aircraft took off heading to Italy on 10 and 11 january; bombers of the 13° Stormo on 18 january.

Hakan, both books are sold out: it's possible that some second hand copies will surface in eBay.it.

Best regards

Gianandrea