325 Fg 22.07.43

[Ludovico Slongo]

That of 22 July 1943 over the general area of Monserrato in Sardinia, was a confused dogfight between Italian Macchis of the two Gruppi of 51° Stormo and 325th FG Warhawks. Gianandrea Bussi together with Edoardo Raucci masterfully described it in “Pantere la storia del 155° Gruppo …” perhaps the best Italian W.W.II air unit History ever written. (Dear Mr. Bussi, hope to see other books of this quality in the near future). It seems that no Luftwaffe units were present during this specific combat or at least no Luftwaffe pilot claimed victories. The Italian pilots came off second best and claimed heavily during this confused low altitude melee, but also the American pilots overclaimed somewhat.

155°’s pilots claimed eight confirmed and four probables P40s with fifteen more claimed as damaged, while 20°’s pilots claimed two more Warhawks confirmed and nine damaged. In return they lost the Macchis of Sergente Ferruccio Serafini (an ace of 378a Squadriglia of 155° Gruppo), Capitano Paolo Damiani (CO of 352a Squadriglia 20° Gruppo) and Sottotenente Redento Borbotti (another pilot of 20° Gruppo) with the loss of the pilots. One more Macchi was heavily damaged (Maresciallo Alessandro Sicco wounded) and three were damaged less seriously. To complete this black day a liaison Caproni was shot down by the Warhawks (that misidentified it for a Junkers 52) while landing at Casa Zeppera, with the loss of Maresciallo Virgilio Pongiluppi of 351a Squadriglia and three airmen: Pietro Cervasi, Giovannino Battisti and Giovanni Corvascio.

Italian claimers where:

Tenente Giovanni Franchini (351a CO): 1P40

Maresciallo Remo Zedda (360a): 1P40

Maresciallo Pasquale Bartolucci (360a): 1P40

Maresciallo Roberto Gaucci (378a): 1P40

Sergente Maggiore Gastone Fattoretto (360a) : 1P40

Tenente Giovanni Ambrosio (378a) and Sottotenente Pier Paolo Paravicini (360a): 1P40 shared

Sergente Ferruccio Serafini (378a) : 2P40s.

Serafini was reputed to have rammed his second opponent because remained without ammunitions and received for this reason a posthumous “medaglia d’oro al valor militare” (Italy’s highest bravery award). Damiani, a brave and highly respected leader received the same posthumous award.

The “Chekertail ‘s clan” pilots claimed twelve Macchis, one BF 109 , two Fi 156s and two Ju 52s, for a total of seventeen victories (two of them by Major Bob Baseler).

Not it’ll be interesting to know the names of the other American pilots claiming, the exact number of their formation, the names of the 20° Gruppo’s pilots claiming and if the 325th suffered other damages apart from the two P40s that failed to return with their pilots. Hope someone can help.

Ludovico.