Seafox or Seagull?

[alex crawford]

Hi Juha,

I have the FAA aircraft, units and ships 1920-1939 by Sturtivant. It has a section on the Aussie Seagulls from A2-1 to A2-24. There is no info after 12/39, but there is a photo of a Seagull perched on the catapult of HMAS Sydney.

Alex

[Alex Smart]

Hi Alex,

Not a Seafox but a Seagull.

A2-21
Crew F/lt. T. MacBride RAAF
Lt. J. C. Bacon RN
Attacked by RAF Gladiators while spotting at Bardia.
Port u/c collapsed on landing at Mersa Matru date 21/6/1940.

Ref: Air Brit FAA Aircraft 1939-45 and Profile magazine number224.

A2-2 and A2-4 served in HMAS Sydney followed after A2-21 by K8542 on loan from RN from 26/6/40 until damaged at Mersa Matru and condemed returned to RN 103MU on 23/9/40. In turn was then was L2177 which served in HMAS Sydney from 23/9/1940 until 19/11/1941 when she went down with the ship.

Hope this helps

Yet another blue on blue

Alex

[alex crawford]

Hi Alex,

Thanks for the details. That's another book on my shopping list. I would assume it has details on the Sea Galdiators as well.

Just had another thought.

Could the Seagull have been attacked by Cr32/42's and reported as Gladiators? Does anyone know if any Italian units were active over Bardia on this day?

Alex

[Ludovico Slongo]

Italian fighters did were active during the day and during early morning a quite well known engagement took place over Tobruk harbour between a couple of Cr 42s of 10° Gruppo CT a couple of CR 32s of 8° Gruppo CT and Sunderland “X” L 2160 of 230 Sqd. piloted by Wing Commander G. Francis and Flight Lieutenant Garside. (You can find details of the engagement in the site of Hakan Gustavsson), however it seems that the combat was indeed between the Fiats and a Sunderland so apparently no connection with the Seagull loss. Other morning engagements for the day were an unsuccesfull interception of 55 Squadron's Blenheims made by CR 42s over Tobruk T2 and finally a strafing attack against 11th Hussars armoured vheicles near Bir el Gobi made by CR 32s of 8° Gruppo. You should keep in mind that the records of 10° Gruppo for the period were reconstructed in 1941 and are not complete so it is not possible to exclude with the highest degree of certainty an Italian involvment.
Ludovico.