Quote:
Originally Posted by Nick Beale
El Feteja Uadi
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Should be Derna.
On the sinking of Canopo
The attack is in the German port commander's war diary for the time 2250-2340 (Berlin) on 3 May.
Quote:
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Bombing attack. Italian torpedo boat Canopo exploded and sank due to incendiary bomb.
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The Italian story is that she was hit by a single bomb near the stack, and then a fire developed. Apparently a single raider.
https://www.trentoincina.it/torpedin...nopo-e-perseo/ (some pictures of the wreck and first-hand accounts)
I have now checked the Malta Swordfish report, and intriguingly, a/c 'C' reported to have dropped its mine 'less than a cable off the northern-most ship of the outer group', so under 185m from the ship. As this would have been dropped at a low height of maybe 500ft, it is quite possible that this mine hit Canopo and exploded on impact.
Given that we can rule out anyone else I would be inclined to give credit to S/Lt Smith (pilot) and S/Lt Gordon-Smith (observer) of Swordfish C of 830 Sqn FAA.
All the best
Andreas