|
Allied and Soviet Air Forces Please use this forum to discuss the Air Forces of the Western Allies and the Soviet Union. |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Tripoli raid 7 December 1940
Hi guys
At dusk and during the night of 7 December 1940, a total of 15 Wellingtons from Malta raided Tripoli and Castel Benito airfield, where it was reported that 29 Italian aircraft (SM79s?) had been destroyed or damaged. CR42s intercepted and damaged two of the Wellingtons. However, I can't seem to find much about this raid. Nothing in Shores' Mediterranean Air War, for some strange reason. A major omission? Also, the above tome does not show any CR42 unit being based at Castel Benito, so who were the CR42 pilots involved? I'm sure there is a simple answer out there - please advise! Cheers Brian |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Tripoli raid 7 December 1940
Evening Brian
It is on page 491 in MAW Vol 1. The CR.42 fighters belonged to Nucleo Caccia Tripoli which was some kind of Composite unit and the fighter section had been formed from 93a Sqd. Cheers Stig |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Tripoli raid 7 December 1940
Serg. Vito Rinaldi of the Nucleo Caccia Tripoli (Composite Fighter Group Tripoli) claimed two Wellingtons damaged over Castel Benito.
British losses: F/O P.W. de B.Forsyth "R" (T2838) force-landed on return Malta S/Ldr P.S.Foss with starboard wing and tailplane damaged on return to Luqa suffered a burst tyre ans swung off the runway. Italian losses: 15 bombers and 14 fighters put out of action: one CR.30 (or CR.42 ?) destroyed nine CR.42,Two CR.32,Two G.50 damaged three SM.79 destroyed (60°Gr.) six SM.79 damaged (60° Gr.) six SM.79 damaged (probably of 15° Stormo) michel |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Tripoli raid 7 December 1940
Thanks guys
My apologies to the Shores' team - It didn't occur to me that there would be two 7 December entries - I was looking at 7 December on page 86. Silly me! Cheers Brian |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Friendly fire WWII | Brian | Allied and Soviet Air Forces | 803 | 8th July 2023 16:47 |
Claims Italy (Wellesley) - 6 december 1940 - Ethiopia | ajcrou | Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces | 0 | 20th January 2017 14:37 |
Blenheim incident 16/17 December 1940 | Brian | Allied and Soviet Air Forces | 3 | 21st February 2010 12:22 |
Operation Abigail Rachel, Mannheim 16/17 December 1940 | ChristianK | Allied and Soviet Air Forces | 5 | 11th February 2010 11:12 |
VVS operations 6-8 may & 8-10 june 1943, claims and losses. | Evgeny Velichko | Allied and Soviet Air Forces | 78 | 18th August 2009 16:16 |