20 April 1943 - Africa

[Ludovico Slongo]

Dear Greg S.

I'm probably not going to add nothing new to your knowledge about this specific combat, but I post these notes because I'm also interested in this topic and hope someone else could help with pieces of information. As far as I know, the combat of 20 April 1943 took place in the early afternoon over the sea 35 miles West of Pantelleria island between thirty-four Italian fighters (twenty-five Macchi MC 205V of 6° Gruppo and 17° Gruppo 1° Stormo, led by Maggiore Luigi Di Bernardo -CO of 17° Gruppo- and nine Macchi MC 202 of 80a Squadriglia 17° Gruppo led by Capitano Clizio Nioi) and a reportedly sixty Spitfires (in fact according with British historian Christopher Shores a huge formation of Spitfires coming from 92, 417, 601 and 1SAAF Squadrons covered by six Polish-manned Spitfires of 145 Squadron -this is coming from FOT that i suppose you already know very well.
The returning Italian pilots claimed (according with Italian historian Giovanni Massimiello) that land observers had credited them with fourteen Spitfires while loosing three Macchi MC 205V with the death of Tenente Francesco Fanelli and Tenente Vittorio Bacchi Andreoli while the third Macchi piloted by Maresciallo Anano Borreo crash-landed at Pantelleria on return. Other Macchis were damaged and in fact it is known that Capitano Pietro Calistri came back wounded. It is not known if American Spitfires were present but there were no recorded Commonwelth losses only the Polish Spitfire flown by FO Drecki was heavily damaged but he succeeded in coming back to base. Spitfire pilots claimed 10 confirmed victories over Macchis (six by 145 Polish Pilots, one by 601 Squadron and three by 92 Squadron). It was definitly not the best performance of 1° Stormo and maybe that the incorrect obsevations of land observers were the first cause for this huge overclaiming.
As you can see nothing new... I'm appreciating very much any further addiction.

Regards

Ludovico.