The plane that sunk Polluce 4/9/1942
 

Colleagues.

Please help find out which plane sank the Italian torpedoboat Polluce on the morning of 4 September 1942. According to the description of the Italians, the destroyer was sunk during the skipp attack of a single aircraft.

Re: The plane that sunk Polluce 4/9/1942
 

P/O Donald Beaton from 459 Squadron flying Hudson FH.242 "GK-K" is credited with sinking the Polluce.

He attacked the ship he sighted at 0605 in position 3220N 2340E "across beam and amidships by releasing 10 x 100 A.S. 2 1/2 second delay bombs from 40 feet. There was a large explosion as the a/c flew through the ack-ack, and the a/c sustained a hit in the starboard wing, both aileron cables being cut being cut. There was also a hit on the starboard end of the tailplane. The a/c circled to see the results of its attack and the D/R was seen to be on fire with dark smoke pouring from it."

Crew: P/O Beaton, P/O Potier, Sgt Heathwood, Sgt Maddrell (all RAAF)

The Plane: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/galler...Hudson/P027085

Two photos of the Polluce sinking: https://i.redd.it/1t2oge4sxma01.jpg

Source of Polluce photos: https://www.reddit.com/r/WarshipPorn...king_north_of/

Squadron History: https://www.454-459squadrons.org.au/459history

Re: The plane that sunk Polluce 4/9/1942
 

Thanks for the great answer!

Re: The plane that sunk Polluce 4/9/1942
 

Colleagues.
In the same convoy, a few hours earlier, an unknown British plane sank the Italian ship Davide Bianchi with a torpedo or bomb. Please help me find out which plane it was.

Re: The plane that sunk Polluce 4/9/1942
 

Sgt N Jones, flying a Wellington (HF912) of 38 Squadron is credited with sinking the Davide Bianchi.

38 Squadron dispatched 8 A/C, 7 A/C carried two torpedoes each and one A/C carried 2 x 1000 GP bombs.

Wellingon “L” HF912 carried two torpedoes and was crewed by Sgt Jones, Sgt Welsh, Sgt Carington, Sgt Holden and Sgt Noble. They took off at 2255 (September 3) and returned at 0600 on September 4.

“The crews were briefed to attack a convoy of 3 MV’s and escort. And to ignore sighting reports of any smaller convoys. F/S Brigg A/C ‘Y” developed engine trouble after three hours and he was forced to return to base. The remaining A/C received a sighting report from Special Wellington at 0150 hours – 1 MV and 1 DR- this was ignored as ordered. A second sighting report was received at 0200 hours – this concerned the main convoy and so all aircraft set course to intercept.”

“At 0230 hours Sgt. Jones sighted 3 MV’s and 1 DR in position 32 50N 23 50E. Twenty minutes later he attacked a three island type MV of about 4000 tons releasing torpedoes at 800 and 600 yards. After passing over the ship and when the A/C was about ¾ mile away, there was a terrific explosion and the ship split in two. On circling, the bows and stern were seen to be sticking out of the water about 100 yards apart. Other A/C confirmed this, and also saw another ship burning – afterwards it was learned that a submarine was responsible for the second ship.” (This 2nd ship was probably the Padenna which was sunk by the submarine HMS Thrasher.)

“The remaining 6 A/ C did not attack and returned to base with their loads.”

Re: The plane that sunk Polluce 4/9/1942
 

Thanks again!

Re: The plane that sunk Polluce 4/9/1942
 

Colleagues.
Please help me solve the puzzle with another unknown plane. On September 10, 1942, the hospital ship Arno was sunk by an air torpedo near Tobruk. Please tell me which plane attacked this Italian ship.

Re: The plane that sunk Polluce 4/9/1942
 

The attack on the Arno was carried out by a single Wellington from 38 squadron. The wording of the attack is somewhat confusing (i.e. what ship did he attack?).
On the night of 9/10 September 1942, four aircraft from 38 squadron took off between 2050 and 2110 to attack shipping north of Derna. One plane “P” (P/O Ogilivie) returned early at 2155 due to engine trouble. The remaining three A/C searched an area North of Derna and all saw a hospital ship in position 33 04N, 23 26E. P/O Gillingham and Sgt. Taylor took no further action and returned to Base. F/Sgt. Dalley (Wellington "L" HF912), however, was suspicious and decided to investigate further. His suspicions were founded and he saw a 2000 ton MV about 50 yds from the hospital ship. He made two attacks and his first torpedo hit amidships – a terrific explosion followed by sparks, a reddish flame and black smoke were seen. A single line of racer was fired at the A/C. The next day the ship was confirmed as having been sunk.

The three planes returned to Base between 0430 and 0450 on the 10th.

An Italian write-up (and using Google Chrome offers a direct English translation, I don’t know about other browsers).
http://conlapelleappesaaunchiodo.blo...arno_6966.html
(There is a confusing date regarding the ULTRA decrypt on 3 September. I suspect the message was sent 1 September not 10 September. )

Many US newspapers covered the Italian press release at the time. It is not clear whether or not the British made any comment.
Newspaper saying Red Crosses were illuminated:
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/48383626

Re: The plane that sunk Polluce 4/9/1942
 

Many thanks for the help!

Re: The plane that sunk Polluce 4/9/1942
 

I apologize, but again I found information about an unknown English plane that succeeded.
The Italians write that at 04:45 on May 31, 1942 the steamer Gino Allegri was hit by Wellington bombs from the 221st Squadron 80 miles west of Benghazi. At the same time, this ship was hit by two torpedoes from the Proteus submarine.
Please help to find out which planes attacked this ship and whether there was an application from them to sink it. The Italians cannot determine what caused the death of the ship - a bomb or a torpedo.