SM.79 loss January 10th 1941

[wwrsimon]

Apologies for not replying sooner Gianandrea, but many thanks indeed for your reply.

I've since found some more information from the book '806 Naval Air Squadron' by Brian Cull and Frederick Galea.

On page 65, which includes some information from an unpublished journal written by G. A. Hogg at the time in which he records:

"We took off at about 10.15 for a fighter patrol and spent some time chasing things. We chased two SM.79s which Red Section were attacking. They made off to Linosa, which they reached before we got in range. At Linosa, we broke off and ground strafed one SM79 which had force-landed in a field - surrounded by a crowd of people. Light machine gun fire encountered. Returned to Fleet climbing at full throttle."

This isn't Tenente Caponetti's aircraft - as you say it landed at Trapani-Birgi. This is recorded in the book earlier on page 65 in which the text records that "Tenente Caponetti's aircraft [which had previously dropped a torpedo aimed at HMS Illustrious, but missed] eventually crashed at Trapani while attempting an emergency landing."

Caponetti's aircraft had been attacked by Lt Robert Henley in Fulmar 6F of 806 Sqn, which had put the starboard engine out of action.