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Re: Did 79th FG (MTO) sink an aircraft carrier?
Hallo Lagarto,
Much to my surprise this is substantially correct. A HOSTILE SKY (The Mediterranean Airwar of the 79th Fighter Group) by DON WOERPEL published by The Andon Press in 1977 records this incident.
Apparently this happened on 20 June 1944 when 12 P-47s of the 87th Fighter Squadron attacked it at anchor in Genoa harbour. It was reputedly hit by five 500-lb bombs and badly damaged but did not sink or turn turtle. It was further damaged in April 1945 by Italian frogmen on 'human' torpedoes.
Another source mentions 16 June 1944 as the date for an air attack on it.
Hope this helps,
Martin Gleeson.
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