B-24 missions on August 21, 1942.

[sergey]

21 agosto 1942
La nave viene attaccata da 16 bombardieri Consolidated B-24 Liberator, dieci dei quali dell’USAAF, ma non riporta alcun danno. L’attacco è stato determinato da intercettazioni di “ULTRA”, che il 19 hanno permesso ai comandi britannici di apprendere della prevista partenza della nave, il 21 dell’avvenuta partenza ed il 22 della scorta aerea assegnata alla cisterna.
https://conlapelleappesaaunchiodo.bl...Alberto+Fassio
The table in the History of the Italian Navy, Convoys to North Africa, Part 2, refers not to the 80th MZ flotilla, but to eight MZ self-propelled landing craft (in fact, there were six). I am in contact with Lorenzo, and the information comes from him.

[AndreasB]

Actually 7 MZ according to the KTB Admiral Aegean, the 80 is likely an error in the machine-translated copy of La Difesa I am using while not in Italy. MZ 741, 745, 747, 756, 739, 757 and 759.



As you will have seen in the Italian OH the only reference to an attack is from the Sportivo convoy. I have an inquiry out with someone who may know more, but won't know for a few more days. The log of Turbine hasn't survived it seems.

The war diary of Comando Supremo states however that it was the Fassio convoy that was attacked 'repeatedly without results, late 22 August and early morning 23 August'.

All the best

Andreas

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Laurent Rizzotti

The lack of details in Italian documents is a pity, because I would like to know if there were two attacks one hour apart or if there was only one, Allied units using two different time zones.

If you don't know them already, Italian naval ULTRA messages for 12–27 August are in DEFE 3/848 which you can download from the National Archives.

[sergey]

Originally Posted by AndreasB

The war diary of Comando Supremo states however that it was the Fassio convoy that was attacked 'repeatedly without results, late 22 August and early morning 23 August'.

These are Wellingtons of 38 Squadron RAF attacking.

[AndreasB]

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

If you don't know them already, Italian naval ULTRA messages for 12–27 August are in DEFE 3/848 which you can download from the National Archives.

Brilliant, thanks a lot.

Unfortunately just confusing the matter further, as it first states that Lince was sailing with Stige and Bianchi, and a later message then states that Lince left with Sportivo, and another later message that Turbine arrived in Athens with some defects.



All the best

Andreas