Italian fighters on Kos

[Brian]

Hi guys

When the RAF/SAAF Spitfires arrived on the island of Kos in mid September 1943, the airfield at Antimachia was occupied by a mixed force of fighters of 396^Squadriglia commanded by Sottoten Giuseppe Morganti. Had the unit changed sides?

What were these aircraft? Did any participate in the subsequent fighting? Presumably all were destroyed on the ground?

Cheers
Brian

[Leendert]

Brian,

An Italian wikimedia site says (at least, I think) that the squadriglia had 2 x C.202, 1 x G.50 and 1 x CR42 at its disposal at the time of the armistice.

The Italians had sided with the Allies and many of them (together with British troops) were taken prisoner in early October 1943 after the Germans had recaptured the island in Operation Eisbär.

Regards,

Leendert

[Brian]

Thanks for that, Leendert

I doubt if the fighters took to the air - apparently most if not all the pilots and groundstaff joined forces with the Germans, at least one - Loris Baldi retraining on the Bf109G and became an ace. Not sure what happened to Morganti.

Cheers
Brian

[Leendert]

Brian,

It appears that Morganti shot down a He-111 on 10 Sep 43 and the Germans retaliated by destroying two Italian a/c the next day and rendering a third useless. In the next days the Germans intensified their bombings.

Regards,

Leendert

[Brian]

Thanks again, Leendert

I wonder if Morganti was one of those Italian officers executed by the Germans following the capture of Kos?

Hopefully one of our Italian friends might be able to advise us.

Cheers
Brian

[Ludovico Slongo]

Dear Brian,
Giuseppe Morganti survived the war. He escaped to Turkey with another pilot, ten. Carlo Berti and was interned there. They came back to Italy and were assigned to 9° Gruppo, 4° Stormo, co-belligerant AF, on July the 1st 1944.
Morganti, that was a non commissioned officer and had already ended his service period in the air force, requested to be placed on leave on September the 9th 1944. All these infos came from the book of Antonio Duma on 4° Stormo.
Additionally he is not comprised in any casualty list of the Italian armed forces during WWII.
ciao
Ludovico