Admiralty War Diaries for 1942, July 1–15

[sergey]

Colleagues.
The Admiralty War Diaries for 1942, July 1–15, contain the following information:
9/7 Following operations against southbound enemy convoy 2 M/Vs, 7,000 tons, 3 M/Vs 300 (?3,000) tons, 2 destroyers, 5 torpedo boats, sighted morning 9/7 by r /c Maryland West of Crete. 5 Liberators despatched in afternoon attacked by about 20 Me. 109s off Sidi Barrani. 2 Me. 109s shot down, 3 Me. 109s probably destroyed, 1 Liberator missing remainder returned owing lack
of ammunition.
https://sccd.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/medi...d6e8ff507f2748
The question is: to which squadrons did the Liberators and Me.109s belong, how many Me.109s took part in the battle and how many aircraft did they lose?
And there too:
night 9/10 ... 6 Beauforts despatched to make dawn attack. 1 Beaufort crashed on take off, crew killed, remainder did not find.
To which squadron did these Beauforts belong?
Grateful for any help.

sergey

[JohanSWE]

Hi Sergey!

I believe regarding the B-24 liberator, is the Halpro squadron/ (part of the newly formed) 1 Provisional Bomb Group. (Later became 376 BG). Which seems to match your report. 1 B-24 missing., 5 B-24 returned to base.

Link to the mission report: Convoy, 1942-07-09.
https://www.armyaircorps-376bg.com/1...18_report.html

/JohanSWE

[AndreasB]

This was the Siena convoy. We are dealing with this in Breaking Rommel (forthcoming).

Beauforts: 39 Sqn RAF
Bf 109: 1./JG27 (four presumed) Fw Steinhausen made the claim.
Liberators: we only have HALPRO

Hope this helps.

All the best

Andreas

[Chris Goss]

No losses or casualties by I./JG 27 while Fw Guenther Steinhausen of 1./JG 27 claimed the B-24 100km NW Bir-el-Astas 1800hrs

[sergey]

Originally Posted by AndreasB

Beauforts: 39 Sqn RAF
Andreas

I believed that at this time the entire 39 Squadron RAF was already in Malta.

[AndreasB]

Originally Posted by sergey

I believed that at this time the entire 39 Squadron RAF was already in Malta.

That wasn’t the case. They kept a detachment at LG226, four a/c normally could be reinforced.

W/O Morse and crew died in the crash.

All the best

Andreas

[Chris Goss]

It appears that Morse was 47 Sqn attached to 39 Sqn:

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/fi...william-morse/

[AndreasB]

Based on this one flight of 47 Sqn was converting to Beauforts from July 42, so he may have been assigned to gain experience while the squadron wasn’t frontline ready?

https://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/47_wwII.html

All the best

Andreas

[sergey]

So, 47 Squadron was based in Gianaclisa, operationally subordinate to 39 Squadron, but not part of it? And even when 39 Squadron was transferred from Malta to Egypt in early October, 47 Squadron formally remained an independent unit?

[Chris Goss]

Suggest you have a look at the 39 and 47 Sqn F540/541 at the NA. I may be wrong but 47 Sqn moved to Shandur 1 Jul 42 and then St Jean 16 Jul 42. 39 Sqn was also at Shandur 1 Jul 42 with detachments to Gianaclis and Luqa