The Mysterious Air Attack on Tripoli, May 3, 1941

[AndreasB]

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

El Feteja Uadi

Should be Derna.

On the sinking of Canopo

The attack is in the German port commander's war diary for the time 2250-2340 (Berlin) on 3 May.

Bombing attack. Italian torpedo boat Canopo exploded and sank due to incendiary bomb.

The Italian story is that she was hit by a single bomb near the stack, and then a fire developed. Apparently a single raider.

https://www.trentoincina.it/torpedin...nopo-e-perseo/ (some pictures of the wreck and first-hand accounts)

I have now checked the Malta Swordfish report, and intriguingly, a/c 'C' reported to have dropped its mine 'less than a cable off the northern-most ship of the outer group', so under 185m from the ship. As this would have been dropped at a low height of maybe 500ft, it is quite possible that this mine hit Canopo and exploded on impact.

Given that we can rule out anyone else I would be inclined to give credit to S/Lt Smith (pilot) and S/Lt Gordon-Smith (observer) of Swordfish C of 830 Sqn FAA.


All the best

Andreas