Malta: The Hurricane Years 1940-41- Question

[194^Squadriglia]

Hello,
I have a question for the owners of the book: Malta: The Hurricane Years 1940-41.

Is there on that book any information about an action dated 11 june 1941?

Many thanks in advance and Happy New Year!!!!

194^

[Sylvester Stadler]

Yes. What specifically are you looking for?

[194^Squadriglia]

Specifically I am looking for informations about a 46th squadron's action against a reconnaissance mission of an italian SM79, the morning of the 11th june 1941.

[Sylvester Stadler]

Here is basically what the book states:

On the morning of this date, a recon S.79 with an escort of 17 MC 200s of 7 Gruppo approached the island and seven Hurricanes of 46 Squadron were scrambled. The Italians were spotted 15 miles east of Valetta at 8000 feet. Sgt Walker spotted the S.79 and attacked it, closing from 250 to 50 yards. When he opened fire, pieces of the right wing and left engine fell off. He broke off the attack but then Sqd. Ldr. Rabagliati, Flg. Off. McGregor and Plt. Off. Grant fired at the Italian aircraft, the left wing fuel tank of which caught fire, and it crashed into the sea. Four crew members were seen to have bailed out but none was ever recovered. The Italian escort fighters claimed two Hurricanes shot down but only one was lost along with the pilot, Flt. Lt. Norman Burnett.

[194^Squadriglia]

Thank you S.Stadler,
so they did not mention that two e-boots searching for Burnett body did instead found three deadly wounded italian crew members of the S.M.79?

[Sylvester Stadler]

The book states that the rescue vessel Jade was sent to search the sea for the Hurricane pilot and that it approached the coast of Sicily without finding him. Two E-boats intercepted the Jade which was fired upon and one crew member was killed. The Jade returned fire and claimed a hit where upon the E-boats retreated. The E-boats are not identified in the book.

[194^Squadriglia]

Thanks for your kind reply S.Stadler.

[Amrit1]

Apart from the information already given above, Galea states in his book Call Out: a wartime diary of air/sea rescue operations at Malta, that HSL107 was also called out and it picked up one dead Italian Sergeant (not identified in book nor type of aircraft)

A

[194^Squadriglia]

Originally Posted by Amrit1

Apart from the information already given above, Galea states in his book Call Out: a wartime diary of air/sea rescue operations at Malta, that HSL107 was also called out and it picked up one dead Italian Sergeant (not identified in book nor type of aircraft)

A

Thank you Amrit1,
very interesting nformation, I wonder where they have found all these detailed infos, can you give me some suggestion for my search?

[Amrit1]

The book is based on various official and private documents, including Station ORBS, and the private diaries of a number who served on teh ASR launches

A