19.6.40 attack by Ba.88s against Bonifacio

[robert]

Hi,

on 19.6.40 at 10.50 hrs some Breda Ba.88 aircraft attacked the airfield in Bonifacio on Corsica. According to French report 1 of the aircraft was shot down and crashed into the sea. Two others could be damaged.
Anybody knows if any of the Italian aircraft was damaged or shot down?

Regards

Robert

[fabriziogttf]

Hello, Robert.
AFAIK, no Breda 88 was shot down or damaged during the attack you mentioned.

The whole tour-of-duty of the Breda 88s against targets in Corsica involved no more than 29 sorties (36 flight-hours) and the delivery of no more than 3.000 kg of explosives, with no losses.

Source L'Aeronautica Italiana nella II GM, by G. Santoro, Rome, 1957, Vol. I, page 401.

Regards

Fabrizio

[robert]

Thanks a lot Fabrizio.
You have pm from me.

Regards

Robert

[fabriziogttf]

Hello,
I have to complete and partially update my previous post, concerning Breda 88 on Corsica, June 1940.
According to “Regia Aeronautica e Armée de l’Air”, by G. Garello (Ed. Bizzarri, Roma, 1975, pages 42-47) the following actions were carried out by the Breda 88 of 19. and 7. Gruppo Combattimento (5. Stormo).
16/06/1940:
· A protective cruise by one Ba88 (based at Campiglia Marittima, Livorno) of 7. Gruppo on the Elba island and Piombino channel
· 6 Ba88 of 101^ Squadriglia/19. Gruppo from Alghero (Sardinia) raid the Bonifacio harbor, dropping 9 50 kg-bombs from an altitude of 2500 m, then perform a low-level attack on the seaplane base and railways station of Portovecchio, and strafe several AAA batteries up to the strip of Figari-Sotta. One Ba88 (CO ten. Cumbat) is damaged on the fuselage, one engine and the tail surfaces
· 6 Ba88 of 100^ Squadriglia/19. Gruppo from Alghero (Sardinia) raid the Ghisonaccia and Travo airstrips from high altitude. No reaction is detected. One Ba88 (CO serg. Baldi) has to crash land near Oristano (Sardinia) for an engine malfunction and it is written off (no casualties).
17/06/1940:
· A protective cruise by 2 Ba88 of 7. Gruppo
19/06/1940:
· 6 Ba88 of 101^ Squadriglia/19. Gruppo dive on military targets near Bonifacio and Porto Vecchio, experiencing strong AAA reaction but no damages on the planes
· 3 Ba88 of 101^ Squadriglia/19. Gruppo (of a 5 planes flight, two of which do not perform the mission for flaps and engines troubles) raid the Ghisonaccia airport. No damages on the planes.
No other sorties were performed within the end of the war against France.
The counting of sorties gives a total of 26 instead of 29 given by the other bibliographic reference.
Hope this could help.
Regards

Fabrizio

[robert]

Hi Fabrizio,

thanks a lot for additional details!

Regards

Robert