I was more interested in
German electronic jamming operations when I looked at this period but I do have a couple of relevant thngs, not that they seem to answer the questions:
ULTRA CX/MSS/1310/T17 says there will be a Lichtenstein operation on the night of 20/21 August, looking for submarines "in front of the route of
Fassio".
CX/MSS/1313/T24 from Fl.Korps X at 1500 on the 21st orders continuous dawn-dusk escort of
Fassio with 5 or 6 aircraft. Zerstörer are to he kept ready in case enemy reconnaissance spots the convoy. A note adds that
Alberto Fassio was to leave Suda for Tobruk at 0200 on 21 August and join the
Pigafetta convoy;
Sportivo was to leave Tobruk for Piraeus provisionally at 1700/20th;
Davide Bianchi and
Stige were to be on passage from Tobruk to Piraeus on the 21st.
CX/MSS/1314/T14 says at 1900/21st that five Bf 110 had been scrambled to protect "one of own convoys" and had shot down two 4-engined American aircraft, "escort of 4 convoys in progress".
CX/MSS/1317/T12 that on 22 August "A Ju 88 escorting
Fassio convoy attacked and forced away a British shadowing aircraft."
CX/MSS/1317/T27 says that at 1410 on the 22nd a Beaufort was chased away from the
Fassio convoy by two escorting aircraft.
Nine Beauforts of 39 Squadron on 21 August attacked a convoy of 1 Tanker, 5 destroyers and a Flak ship 003º 12 miles off Patos. Claimed 3 hits on starboard side of tanker, "which was ;eft with steam comng from it, stationary." Aircraft "V" failed to return.
38 Squadron's Wellingtons on the night of 22/23 August: pilots differed over the convoy's ships, either 7 merchants and a large destroyer, or 5 destroyers and 5 F-lighters. Torpedoes and bombs dropped but direct hits claimed.