Italian Bombing Attacks Nov-Dec 40

[Leendert]

A Dutch language publication by Belgian air historian Cynrik De Decker "Corpo Aero Italiano - The Italian Air Force in Belgium 1940-1941" also mentions three missions in October 1940: 24/25 Oct (Harwich), 27 Oct (Ramsgate) and 29 Oct (Ramsgate).
Last mission was on 2/3 Jan 41 (Ipswich).


Regards,

Leendert

[gedburke3]

Hi Chris,
I have some Black and white footage of the aftermath of the raid. It was sent to me some time ago by Bob Stanford-Tucks son. It is not very 'pc' but is enjoyable none the less.
Drop me a line at gedburke3@yahoo.co.uk and I will forward it in. (File too big to place on here.)
Gerry

[gedburke3]

By the way - the offer is open to all if you want to see it.
Gerry

[Chris Goss]

Gianandrea
Thanks for the most useful pointers but I think now I have all I need in respect of who flew what and when.
Leendert
According to what I have, last mission was 22-23 Dec as by 3 Jan 41, they had departed
Ged
Will be in touch

[Leendert]

Chris,

I've looked up the 2/3 Jan 41 mission again in De Decker's book.

It says 4 BR.20's of 13° Stormo had taken off from Melsbroek for an attack on Ipswich.

Two however experienced technical problems while still over Belgium and they returned to base.
The remaining two were greeted with heavy AA fire over the English coast and the crews decided to return as well...

Indeed, no accomplished mission that day anymore!

Regards,

Leendert

[Håkan]

Hello,

This was very interesting info. I've (as Chris also states) never heard about a bombing mission flown on 2/3 January since the bombers were suposed to have departed by then.

Gianandrea - what does Ricci's books says about this?
BTW - do you know any source to obtain this book?

Best wishes/Håkan

[Gianandrea Bussi]

According to the book written by Gen. Ricci, four BR.20 from 13° Stormo took off on 2 january in order to fly a mission against Ipswich harbour. They should have operate separately. Two came back following failures; the action of the two remaining bombers was disturbed by searchlights and by intense AAA. One nigth fighter was observed. No bomb dropping mentioned.

According to the history of the 13° Stormo the target was Harwich harbour. Bombers took off on late afternoon. Both the bombers that came back had failures at the landing gear retraction system. The two other BR.20M dropped, from 5.000-5.500 m., twenty 100 kg. bombs, ten of them being incendiary bombs. Good visibility above the target allowed an accurate and effective bomb launch.
A further bombing mission with eigth BR.20M from 13° Stormo was planned on 9 january 1941, with the same target. Two aircraft took off at 7.00 pm
but the action was suspended and the aircraft were recalled.

43° Stormo aircraft took off heading to Italy on 10 and 11 january; bombers of the 13° Stormo on 18 january.

Hakan, both books are sold out: it's possible that some second hand copies will surface in eBay.it.

Best regards

Gianandrea