Seafox or Seagull?

[alex crawford]

Hi,

In Hurricanes over Tobruk by Brian Cull and Don Minterne it mentions that on the 21 June 1940 Gladiators attacked, by mistake, a Seagull amphibian from HMAS Sydney, while they were bombarding Bardia.

In The Desert Air War by Richard Townshend Bickers it states that 33 Sqn Gladiators provided protection for naval units that were bombarding Bardia.

I have received the ORB for 33 Sqn for June and July 1940. For the entry for 21 June it states that the Hurricane and Blenheims provided cover for three Seafoxes and one French spotter plane during a naval bombardment of Bardia. Six 'B' Flight Gladiators also co-operated.

The Hurricane and Blenheims had been attached to 33 Sqn due to the Gladiators problem in catching the faster Italian bombers. The Huricane was from 80 Sqn, I don't know where the Blenheims were from.

This then poses a number of questions.

Were the naval aircraft Seafoxes or Seagulls? HMAS Sydney certainly had a Seagull on board. Was it the Hurricane or Blenheims that attacked the Seafox/Seagull? Anyone have the ORB for June for 80 Sqn? Could the attacking Gladiators have been from 80 or 112 Sqns?

Any help in resolving this would be appreciated.

Regards,

Alex