Malta: The Hurricane Years 1940-41- Question

[Sylvester Stadler]

Here is basically what the book states:

On the morning of this date, a recon S.79 with an escort of 17 MC 200s of 7 Gruppo approached the island and seven Hurricanes of 46 Squadron were scrambled. The Italians were spotted 15 miles east of Valetta at 8000 feet. Sgt Walker spotted the S.79 and attacked it, closing from 250 to 50 yards. When he opened fire, pieces of the right wing and left engine fell off. He broke off the attack but then Sqd. Ldr. Rabagliati, Flg. Off. McGregor and Plt. Off. Grant fired at the Italian aircraft, the left wing fuel tank of which caught fire, and it crashed into the sea. Four crew members were seen to have bailed out but none was ever recovered. The Italian escort fighters claimed two Hurricanes shot down but only one was lost along with the pilot, Flt. Lt. Norman Burnett.