Macchi 205. Mecatti Mario

[drifter206]

Hello all

On 11th of April 1944 Macchi 205. crashed near village of Trnovica northwest of Dubrovnik. He was on armed recce in the area of Ston and was hit probably by AAA from Rudine. Pilot Meccati Mario bailed out and was rescued by partisan forces and was back in Italy in may 44.
I have Croatian "NDH Oružnički izvještaj" report of the crash with statement that pilot escaped.
I recently found witness who told me story about search and rescue (he was 8 y.o. kid) and showed me the place of hiding. I also found the crash site and some generic parts.
I have some generic information about this "4 Stormo 91 Squadrilla".
Is there any additional information about this case and also what serial was that Macchi 205 in Trnovica.
Thanks in advance
Antun

[Gianandrea Bussi]

According to the history of the 4° Stormo written by general Antonio Duma, on 11 april 1944 two C.205 of the 10° Gruppo took off from the Palata airstrip at 14.30 in order to fly a recce mission aver the road and railroad Dubrovnik-Mostaci. They attacked a little german car and a train at the position A.4367. During the attack to the train the aircraft of the ten. Mario Mecatti, commander of the 91a Squadriglia of the 10° Grupp, was hit by AAA and the pilot bailed out at A.1282 from 1.200 m. The other C.205 (pilot unknown) came back to Palata. Mecatti came back to his unit after a month and some days.


According to the book Coccarde Tricolori by B. Catalanotto e G. Alegy, Regia Aeronautica lost C.205 MM 92188 on 11 april 1944. The location is given as Hum, I don't know if it could be correct. Because only a C.205 was lost on that day over the Balkans, she should be the Mecatti's aircraft.


ciao


Gianandrea


PS: I don't know were the A.... points are located!

[Zoran Petek]

The letter A shown on the macrepo_10175 map 1:100.000 Dubrovnik is shortened from SA, South Italy grid, and Hum is marked as a railway station.
Some Allied MC.205 losses:
92178 21° Gruppo, 3.8.44.
92180 351a Squa, Albania 17.11.44.
92188 91a Squa, 11.4.44.
92189 351a Squa, 16.7.44.
92190 351a Squa, 31.1.45.
92207 351a Squa. Accident (A. Masetti) 7.7.44.
92211 155° Gruppo (coded 155-14) Albania, 25.8.44.
Zoran

[drifter206]

Gianandrea and Zoran many thanks.
Antun