Claims of Italian night fighters 1940-43?

[Ludovico Slongo]

Ciao,
some additional claims:

Wellingtons of 148 Sqn. attacked Tripoli late afternoon of 7-8 December 1940 ( it was already dark, however).

T2838 R was heavily damaged and DBR after a crash-landing in Luqa, another Wellington (that of Sqn. Ldr. Foss) was heavily damaged and crash-landed at base. Apparently this plane was later recovered.

Two Italian CR 42 pilots claimed the Wellingtons: one was Serg. Vito Rinaldi and the other I'm presently not able to find out, but I have somewhere the name.
Rinaldi later went to 301 Squadriglia were he claimed a damaged (or probable) Blenheim the night of 7 December 1941.

Wellselys of 223 attacked the base of Gura (Eritrea) the night 15-16 December 1940. CR 42s damaged two of them. L2690V crash-landed on return to base and was DBR. It is highly likely that the victory was claimed by Ten. Mario Visintini.

The name of Patriarca was Vincent Joseph. He was a SCW veteran of American origins being born in New York in 1914. Ottaviano is possibly the place near Naples where the bomber fell.

There are more CR 42 night claims in North Africa that are matched by RAF losses, I'll add them later.

Ludovico

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Tenente Giulio Reiner shot down over Fuka Wellington from 40 Squadron RAF at night from 25 to 26 August 1942, he flew out on a standard CR.42 borrowed from 101o Gruppo.

mw

[Håkan]

Hello,

Some minor input.

I think P4965 (obs not 4964) was claimed by Graffer at 01:55- on 14 August 1940.
I don't have any name on the claimant on 16 August 1940.

The second pilot on 16 March 1941 is Penna (not Pinna) (see http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/italy_penna.htm)

A couple of questions:
Is there anyone with first names on the Italian pilots on the following dates:
28/10/41 Parmeggiani and Calafiore (is it Parmeggiani or Parmiggiani?)
23/10/42 Catania (could this be Carmelo Catania - he served in the 13o Gruppo in 1940?)

Best wishes/Håkan

[Gianandrea Bussi]

Amedeo Parmeggiani

Marcello Calafiore

ciao

Gianandrea

[Håkan]

Grazie Gianandrea!

//Håkan

[Ludovico Slongo]

ciao,
the pilot claiming with Serg. Vito Rinaldi on 7 Devember 1940 was S.Ten. Francesco De Seta.

The night of 2/3 November 1941, over Tripoli Ten. Egisto Andalò of 154 Squadriglia 3° Gruppo C.T. claimed Wellington IC X9763/U of 40 Squadron

The night 5/6 November 1941, over Tripoli, pilots of 3° Gruppo claimed three probable victories over Wellintons ( not corroborated by RAF records).

Andalò claimed another Wellington the night of 28 March 1942, possibly the Mk.II coded Z8337/P

At 22.30 on 31 May 1942, Ten. Renato Talamini of 80 Squadriglia 17° Gruppo 1° Stormo claimed a Wellington over Derna. 148 Squadron lost two planes the same night and Bf 110 nightfighters claimed one so one should be the victim of Talamini.

All the above victories were claimed on CR 42s.

Ludovico

[Håkan]

Thanks Ludovico!
Nice info!

Best wishes/Håkan