Italian loss June 10th 1943, Mediterranean?

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by Gianandrea Bussi

The aircraft s/d by the Marauder could be a S.73 of the 56° Gruppo Trasporti that was attacked at 10.45 (italian hour) and 7 km. SSW of Capraia Island by two twin engined Allied aircraft during a flight from Bastia to Pisa. After being hit, the pilot ditched. After two hours, crew and 20 passengers were rescued by a rescue seaplane and a motorboat. Chief of the crew was Ten. Pil. Emilio Bernini.
source: S.A.S. I Servizi Aerei Speciali della Regia Aeronautica 1940-1943, by Massimo Civoli.
ciao
Gianandrea

That loss you list is not mentioned in MAW 4, but it sounds to me like the loss listed in the book as the S.79.
Looking at the route Bastia - Pisa you pass pretty close to Leghorn (Livorno).

The loss place you state is very odd. If you are en route from Bastia to Pisa, what on earth are you
doing SSW of Capraia Isola??
Something here simply does not add up!

Whatever I don't believe No 14 Sq was anywhere close to either Pisa, Bastia, Leghorn or Capraia that day.
All missions given in MAW have them performing around Sicily.

Cheers
Stig

[Gianandrea Bussi]

In the book about 14 Sq. the mission of that Marauder is described as "reconnaissance (...) from Bone up the east coast of Sardinia and Corsica, then east to Montecristo Island and Civitavecchia. West again to the east coast of Sardinia and back to base".

So, far away from Sicily!

Capraia is roughly on the route from Bastia (airport of Borgo) and Pisa

ciao

Gianandrea

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by Gianandrea Bussi

In the book about 14 Sq. the mission of that Marauder is described as "reconnaissance (...) from Bone up the east coast of Sardinia and Corsica, then east to Montecristo Island and Civitavecchia. West again to the east coast of Sardinia and back to base".

So, far away from Sicily!

Capraia is roughly on the route from Bastia (airport of Borgo) and Pisa

ciao

Gianandrea

Yes Gianandrea

14 Sq was partly a sea recce unit.
I don't have the book about 14 Sq you refer to, so I cannot comment about that.
I also see there is a Bastia on Sardinia, which unfortunately didn't show up on Google when I looked for it.

Seems MAW 4 is all wrong with their conclusions in this case.
Very odd indeed

However I still believe the SM 79 they mention was this S.73 of yours.
Which of course begs the question, how was the S.82 listed lost?

Cheers
Stig