SM79s Med 1940 - for our Italian friends
 

Hi guys

1) Following clashes with FAA aircraft on 2 September 1940, apparently two SM79s of 235Sqd were shot down and a third damaged (returned with one fatality).

Has anyone information on crews etc, please?

2) On 4 September 1940, apparently three SM79 of 210Sqd returned seriously damaged with a total of 2 dead and 5 wounded on board.

Has anyone information on crews etc, please?

3) On 1 October 1940 apparently a Z.501 or 506B was shot down; one of the crew may have been A. Girandola. Any information, please?

4) On 29 September 1940, Maggiore Nicola Covarcovich was shot down and killed. Was he CO of 143Sqd RM? What was his background?

Cheers
Brian

Re: SM79s Med 1940 - for our Italian friends
 

The book "Malta the Hurricane Years 1940-1941" should have accounts of these combats

Re: SM79s Med 1940 - for our Italian friends
 

Thanks James

I am the co-author of that book!

Cheers
Brian

Re: SM79s Med 1940 - for our Italian friends
 

1) 2 september 1940, 41° Stormo B.T.: 9 S.79 from 59° Gruppo lead by Ten. Col. Draghelli and 10 from 60° Gruppo lead by Ten. Col. D'Ippolito attacked in two separated actions enemy ships south of Malta.
Four enemy plane were claimed s/d, three S.79 were lost plus some other damaged, one of them being that one of S.Ten. Ferdinando Trolla (born in Hurley, WI, U.S.A.), that landed on its bell at the homebase at Gela badly damaged, with a crewmember dying and another one badly wounded.

From the flight logbook of Ten. Col. Pasquale D'Ippolito I see that the formation he lead was attacked by an "Hawker Hurricane". T/o 17.15, landing 19.15. Other officer on board of his S.79 were Ten. Ghedini and Ten. Pergoli.

2) 210a Sq. operated CZ.1007bis and, AFAIK, was training with this bomber in september 1940.

4) Maggiore Nicola Covacovich (not Covarcovich) is quoted as belonging to the 143a Sq. RM in the casualties list held at the italian AF Historical Office in Rome (compiled by Onorcaduti and not completely reliable).
Usually a Squadriglia was commanded by a Capitano (perhaps was the seaplane base commander attached to the 143 Sq.?). Born in 1905, he was a member of the Corso Drago of the Regia Accademia Aeronautica and almost all his career was with seaplanes: Stormo Misto Egeo, cruiser Bolzano, 86° Gruppo Autonomo, Regia Nave Miraglia, 83° Gruppo Autonomo, 84° Gruppo Autonomo.

Hope this helps

Gianandrea

Re: SM79s Med 1940 - for our Italian friends
 

Many thanks, Gianandrea

Good to hear from you again.

Regarding the 4 September 1940 action, obviously 210Sqn was not involved. Any idea which unit was and its losses?

I should have written 201Sqd

Cheers

Brian

Re: SM79s Med 1940 - for our Italian friends
 

Brian, perhaps the answer to your question number two is the following one:

On 4 september, formations of S.79 from 34° and 92° Gruppo B.T. took off from Gadurrà airport (Rhodos) in order to attack british warship. They were attacked by aircraft carrier based "Hurricanes" with the following casualties:

a bomber from 200a Sq. (92° Gruppo) came back with Serg. Magg. Pil. Umberto Massari dead;

another one from 67a Sq. (34° Gruppo) came back with 1° Av. Marc. Guido Rebonato dead.

Both dead airmen acted as gunner when hit.

One S.79 of 201a Sq. (92° Gruppo) was missing with the whole crew:
Ten. Pil. Nicola Dall'Olio, S.Ten. Pil. Giuseppe Gaggi, 1° Av. Mot. Giovanni Gambin, 1° Av. Arm. Giuseppe Ranucci, 1° Av. Marc. Giuseppe Agnelli, Av. Sc. Aiut. Fot. Adelmo Vaccondio.

Following personnel of 201a was wounded: Cap. Pil. Costante Lazzarini (Squadriglia commander), Serg. Magg. Pil. Antonio De Rosa, Serg. Magg. Arm. Dario Pioli, 1° Av. Marc. Edoardo La Pietra, 1° Av. Mot. Carlo Casarini.

On another S.79 of 67a Sq. 1° Av. Fot. Tolmino Latini was wounded.

About question number three: in which area of the Mediterranean sea happened the combat?

ciao

Gianandrea

Re: SM79s Med 1940 - for our Italian friends
 

Thanks again, Gianandrea

Excellent! Just the information I was after.

The seaplane incident would have been in the same general. Sorry, I can't be more specific. Does the airman's name not help?

Cheers
Brian

Re: SM79s Med 1940 - for our Italian friends
 

No, the airman name doesn't help.

I can add that the observer in Magg. Covacovich aircraft was Tenente di Vascello Corrado Viola.

Some time ago I took a pictures of Ten. Rodolfo Fazio flightbook. He served in 235 Sq and took part to the 2 september 1940 mission.

"Bombardment of the british fleet south of Malta. Very heavy and accurate anti aircraft fire. Heavy combat against Hurricanes before bombs dropping. Two enemy fighter s/d. Two S.79 of the same formation shot down in combat. Three 250 kg. bombs dropped"

Oddly, the MM of the two s/d bomber are mentioned: they seem to be 21745 and 22095 but I'm not 100% sure because the picture is unluckily not good.

ciao

Gianandrea

Re: SM79s Med 1940 - for our Italian friends
 

Again my thanks, Gianandrea

I've sent you a PM

Cheers
Brian