[Daniele Gatti]

On July 9, 1941 seven Blenheim IVs from 110 Squadron took off from Luqa (Malta) to attack Axis shipping in Tripoli harbour.

The Blenheims claimed several hits on four merchant vessels.
They were intercepted by one FIAT G.50 and two FIAT CR.42.
They said that the british aircrafts were five... then two Blenheims could have had some problems and returned to Malta prematurely.

At the end of the fight four Blenheims failed to return:

Z6449 Blenheim Mk.IV
Sqn Ldr Douglas Holland Seale Pil. KIA
Sgt Frederick Bertie Mulford Obs. KIA
Flt Sgt William Henderson McDougall W.Op.A.G. KIA

Z9533 Blenheim Mk.IV
Sgt W. H. Twist Pil. POW
Sgt D. W. Allen Obs. POW
Sgt S. W. Taylor W.Op.A.G. POW

Z9537 Blenheim Mk. IV
Flt Lt Michael Ernest Potier Pil. KIA
Flt Lt T. Griffith-Jones Obs. POW
Sgt D. H. Wythe W.Op.A.G. POW

Z9578 Blenheim Mk. IV
Plt Off Walter Hugh Lowe Pil. KIA
Sgt Ronald Ernest Baird Obs. KIA
Sgt Harold Lummus W.Op.A.G. KIA

Do you know the names of the crews of the other three Blenheim of this mission? (The ORB of 110 Squadron does not describe them)
Do you know the "first" and the "middle" name of POW (Twist, Allen, Taylor, Griffith-Jones and Wythe)?
Is there still some living witness?

According to the italian record book serg. magg. Aldo Buvoli (pilot of FIAT G.50) shot down the formation leader and an other Blenheim.
M.llo Paolo Montanari (pilot of FIAT CR.42) claimed one enemy aircraft.
Serg. Ottorino Ambrosi (pilot of other FIAT CR.42) claimed an other Blenheim.
The bulletin of the italian HQ of Armed Forces stated that two aircrafts were destroyed by fighters and two other by Flak.

Any informations, details or documents about this mission are very welcome!

Best regards, Dan