Thread: Z1007 88 Gruppo lost April 1944
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Old 2nd February 2013, 18:22
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Re: Z1007 88 Gruppo lost April 1944

Hi Gianandrea

This is what I have:

In addi­tion to escorting the US medium bombers, 253 also covered Spitfire fighter-bomber attacks on shipping, road and rail targets. Another air victory was claimed on 7 April, but this turned out to be an Italian Co-Belligerent SM82. Two sections of Spitfires led by Flg Off J.J.L. Houle RCAF and Flg Off H.J. Wilks were patrolling in company with others from the 52ndFG, when the SM82 was spotted. Nab Stening wrote:

‘Six of us on a coastal patrol encountered an Italian bomber, an SM82. We attacked one after another. I was third and by this time the gunner had stopped firing and one engine was on fire. As I fired, I saw pieces fly off the aircraft and another engine was on fire. After the fifth Spitfire attacked, the aircraft hit the sea with a great splash and the sixth Spitfire [Sgt HD Tuffnell] didn’t get a shot at it.’

So I assume off the Italian coast?
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