Wartime Italy, 1940-45

[Malcolm Tudor]

I am pleased to announce a new website devoted to my books on wartime Italy.

The books cover British and Allied prisoners of war, escape and evasion, covert operations and air supply in Italy during the Second World War.

The new site can be viewed at http://www.emiliapublishing.com

Regards,
Malcolm Tudor

[Brian]

Hi Malcolm

I have ordered a copy of your SOE Italy book and look forward to receiving it.

Thanks
Brian

[Malcolm Tudor]

Thank you for your order, Brian.

Your book has been posted and I hope you enjoy reading it.

Regards,
Malcolm Tudor

website www.emiliapublishing.com

[Brian]

Hi Malcolm - book just received with thanks. A nice production but of course I haven't read it yet. However, I was hoping to find some mention of the 148 Squadron Lysander (T1456) that was shot down in error by US P-51s on 22 November 1944 near Venice. It had departed Fano flown by F/O JFA Rayns with the purpose of delivering two or three agents/SOE to north-east Italy. All were killed but the passengers have variously been described as two British SOE officers, each with DSO, MC & Bar, or three Italian agents. Have you any knowledge/details?

Cheers
Brian

[micky]

Hi Brian, i have a different version of the whole story, but i was unable to verify: The plane seems to be shot down near Villanova D'Asti (Piemonte region, northwest italy) instead of Venice (Northeast). Some local sources says also that one of the passenger was Lawrence Neville "Temple" Darewsky, a SOE officer, but in fact Darewsky died in a car accident (crushed by a truck).
I guess that the error was the confusion between the lysander "pick up" mission name (TEMPLAR) and Major Darewsky nickname (TEMPLE). Someone know more? thanks.

Mick

[Brian]

Thanks Mick

Please keep me advised of any further information on this incident

Cheers
Brian

[mayfair35]

Gentlemen:
If you can provide some additional details, I might have the answer as to who shot down this Lysander. Did it have an escort of 4 Spitfires? Did the Spitfires identify the tail markings of the aircraft that shot it down?
Cordially, Art Fiedler; 317th FS; 325th FG; 15th AF

[Brian]

Hi Art/Mayfair

Actually, the escort comprised six RAAF Mustangs but could have easily been mistaken for Spitfires. Apparently the P-51s were escort to B-17s returning from a bombing raid on Ban (?) in southerrn Italy. One P-51 peeled away, almost collided with an RAAF Mustang, and shot down the Lysander which, presumably, the American pilot thought was a German Henschel 126.

I would like to know what you have established, please.

Cheers
Brian

[mayfair35]

Hello Brian,
As I was preparing to answer your questions, I realized that you indicated the Lysander was shot down on 22 Nov. 1944. If this is correct, it could not have been the one I know about. My incident happened before 4 October 1944 as the pilot involved ran out of gas that day and bailed out in Northern Italy. But the fact that a Lysander was shot down over Northeastern Italy and by a P-51 cannot have occurred too often?? I am also confused by your statement that the B-17s were returning from a bombing raid in SOUTHERN ITALY?? That would be impossible as our 15th AF bases were already as far north as a line drawn from Rome directly East. All our 15th AF bomber bases were in Southern Italy. Do you possibly mean a target in Northern Italy or Southern Austria or Germany? And the wings of a Spit are so distinctive that it would be hard to mistake them as P-51s. Actually I understand that our pilot never saw any escorting fighters. Thus if your facts are correct, I must conclude there are at least two incidents where a Lysander was shot down in North Italy by a P-51!!
I await your comments. Should you wish to contact me by Email, I am mayfair35@aol.com
Cordially, Art Fiedler