Malta: The Hurricane Years 1940-41- Question
 

Hello,
I have a question for the owners of the book: Malta: The Hurricane Years 1940-41.

Is there on that book any information about an action dated 11 june 1941?

Many thanks in advance and Happy New Year!!!!

194^

Re: Malta: The Hurricane Years 1940-41- Question
 

Yes. What specifically are you looking for?

Re: Malta: The Hurricane Years 1940-41- Question
 

Specifically I am looking for informations about a 46th squadron's action against a reconnaissance mission of an italian SM79, the morning of the 11th june 1941.

Re: Malta: The Hurricane Years 1940-41- Question
 

Here is basically what the book states:

On the morning of this date, a recon S.79 with an escort of 17 MC 200s of 7 Gruppo approached the island and seven Hurricanes of 46 Squadron were scrambled. The Italians were spotted 15 miles east of Valetta at 8000 feet. Sgt Walker spotted the S.79 and attacked it, closing from 250 to 50 yards. When he opened fire, pieces of the right wing and left engine fell off. He broke off the attack but then Sqd. Ldr. Rabagliati, Flg. Off. McGregor and Plt. Off. Grant fired at the Italian aircraft, the left wing fuel tank of which caught fire, and it crashed into the sea. Four crew members were seen to have bailed out but none was ever recovered. The Italian escort fighters claimed two Hurricanes shot down but only one was lost along with the pilot, Flt. Lt. Norman Burnett.

Re: Malta: The Hurricane Years 1940-41- Question
 

Thank you S.Stadler,
so they did not mention that two e-boots searching for Burnett body did instead found three deadly wounded italian crew members of the S.M.79?

Re: Malta: The Hurricane Years 1940-41- Question
 

The book states that the rescue vessel Jade was sent to search the sea for the Hurricane pilot and that it approached the coast of Sicily without finding him. Two E-boats intercepted the Jade which was fired upon and one crew member was killed. The Jade returned fire and claimed a hit where upon the E-boats retreated. The E-boats are not identified in the book.

Re: Malta: The Hurricane Years 1940-41- Question
 

Thanks for your kind reply S.Stadler.

Re: Malta: The Hurricane Years 1940-41- Question
 

Hello,

Since I'm not sure who the writer behind 194^Squadriglia is (perhaps someone I already know) - I just want to share the information that I have a couple of images of the pilot on the shot down S.79, Tenente Giorgio Pozzolini, on my site at: http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/italy_facchini.htm

Best wishes/Håkan

Re: Malta: The Hurricane Years 1940-41- Question
 

Hello Håkan, :)
yes you know me, I am Max.

I am searching news about the crew of the S.M.79 of my uncle Giorgio.

As I stated before, I have news about a search made in the sea by two British E-boats after the search of the "Jade" and his "meeting" with two Italians E-boats.

The information I have is that three crew members bodies of the S.M.79 were found by the British E-Boats and brought to Malta, probably at the St.Andrew memorial and later (after the war) transfered to Italy.

Thanks

P.S. will send you the complete translation asap

Re: Malta: The Hurricane Years 1940-41- Question
 

Apart from the information already given above, Galea states in his book Call Out: a wartime diary of air/sea rescue operations at Malta, that HSL107 was also called out and it picked up one dead Italian Sergeant (not identified in book nor type of aircraft)

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