12-11-42 Italian SM-75 losses?

[David Pausey]

12-11-42
Six SM-75’s were claimed by 272 Sqn Beaufighters south-east of Pantelleria.. The Italians recorded five lost, one S-84 of 48 Squ and four from 47 Squ, 37 Gruppo BT, 18 Stormo.
Can anyone confirm these losses and provide more details ?
Thank you David

[Gianandrea Bussi]

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

[Gianandrea Bussi]

Addition: one of the Beaufighters was claimed shot down by the crews of the Trabucchi's S.82

Gianandrea

[David Pausey]

Thank you Gianandrea

Would it be possible to match up which pilot flew which aircraft ?
Can you tell me more about the Source of your information ?

Regards

David

PS Just incase you do not know P/O Palmers Beau was hit by return fire and crash-landed at its base. If you would like more information just let me know.

Regards

David

[Gianandrea Bussi]

My sources are the book written in 2000 by M.Civoli, who deals with the history of the Servizi Aerei Speciali (S.A.S.), the military transport service of the Regia Aeronautica, and one of the little volumes of the Dimensione Cielo , printed in the seventies but still a very valuable and reliable source.
I'm not able to match up pilots and aircraft serial: this operation could be possible only with a specific research in the italian AF historical archive.
Yes, I'm interested in other details about the Beau that crashlanded, thank you.

Regards

Gianandrea

[David Pausey]

Hi Gianandrea

I have Sent you a Private Message via this board.

Regards
David