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Re: 12-11-42 Italian SM-75 losses?
On 12 novembre 1942, during a flight from Tripoli to Castelvetrano, five S.82 (first pilots: Ten. Vercillo, Ten. Mantelli, Ten. Cefalo, M.llo Trabucchi, Ten. Altieri) were attacked near Lampedusa by six Beaufighters. Two aircraft landed at sea with wounded on board, other three were shot down. 14 crewmembers were missing and other six wounded. Five passengers of the Ten. Altieri's S.82 were killed; amongst the passengers of the Ten. Vercillo's aircraft, 17 were missing: one woman and 1° Av. Arm. Frino, both wounded, were rescued by an italian military motorboat.
For his behaviour during this combat, M.llo Mario Trabucchi (born in 1908) - who managed to land at sea even though wounded in an hand and in one leg but, rescued, lost his life on 13 november after his right leg was amputated - was awarded with Medaglia d'Oro al Valor Militare.
Source: Massimo Civoli, I Servizi Aerei Speciali della Regia Aeronautica, 1940-1943.
According to vol. 9 of the serie Dimensione Cielo the aircraft involved were MM 60805/617-14 of 48° Stormo and MM 60329, 60776, 60795 and 60796 from 47a Sq. (45° Stormo) and the human losses were 16 crewmembers and 28 passengers.
Regards
Gianandrea
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