Italian Night Fighters - Milan - 13/14th Feb. 1943

[Håkan]

Hello Adriano,

The reason that Balli isn't included on Jan Safarik's site is probalby that his claim was only for a damaged not a destroyed. The last night-fighter claim for a destroyed (and last Italian claim with the CR.42) was made on the night of 20-21/11-42 by Capitano Scaglierini http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/italy_scaglierini.htm .
Unfortunately I don't have any info on which Gruppo Balli served, only the Stormo. Perhaps Ludovico have more info when he is back on-line after a major computer break-down.

Best wishes/Håkan

BTW. The link to my site is http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se

[veltro]

Very Interesting thread, thanks to all concerned

Having realized long ago a study on the use of the Dornier Do 217 J as a night fighter by the Regia Aeronautica and about the only documented claim (the pdf of the article - in Italian - can be recovered here: http://win.150gct.it/File150/Veltro/...ella_Notte.pdf ), I know how sparse and rare info on this topic can be.

For Håkan: the correct name of the Italian pilot is Scagliarini, not Scaglierini. Just to amend the fantastic info in your excellent site.

[Håkan]

Dear Ferdinando,

Thanks for the pdf (and images included in it) and also thanks for the corrections of Scagliarini (which is indeed the name we have used in the Osprey book).

Best wishes/Håkan

[Gianandrea Bussi]

I don't know which was the unit of Ten. Cesare Balli in february 1943.
In june 1943 he served in the 232a Squadriglia (59° Gruppo). He was one of the first italian pilot who flew the Bf.110 in july 1942 and these aircraft were operated by the 235a Sq. (60° Gruppo). In the volume 3 of the serie "Dimensione Cielo" there is a picture of Bf.110 235-8 taken in winter 1942-43: according to the caption, this aircraft was flown by Ten. Balli.
So, we may think that this officer could have operate with 235a Sq. at the time of the combat with the Lancaster.
Ludovico has written to me that the source of the italian infos about this combat is the book "Bombardate l'Italia" written by Marco Gioannini and Giulio Massobrio.
Thanks to Adriano for the infos (on behalf of Ludovico too)

Gianandrea