Identity of German aircraft attacking ship between Cyprus and Alexandria, 22 March 1941?

[Sid Guttridge]

The Brazilian ship Taubaté reported being bombed and machine-gunned by an aircraft bearing black crosses on 22 March 1941 while in transit between Cyprus and Alexandria. Her exact position was reportedly 32 degrees, 43 minutes North and 30 degrees, 51 minutes West.

The bombs were near misses, but the machine guns caused casualties amongst the crew.

Is this sufficient information to establish which German unit carried out the attack, and with what aircraft?

Many thanks,

Sid,

[Jim P.]

The book "Malta: The Hurricane Years 1940-41", Shores, Christopher/Cull, Brian, Squadron Press, 0-89747-207-1 likely has more info, but the likely unit(s) involved would be LG 1 or III./KG 30 which were operating in that theater at the time.

[Don Pearson]

Speaking of:

http://cgi.ebay.com/SHIP-BOAT-S-S-TA...-/320666130140

Don

[Sid Guttridge]

Thanks guys.

The Taubate aerial photo was a heck of a coincidence!

I have "Malta: The Hurricane Years" but I assumed the incident was too far east to be included. I will check. I also have Shores' book on the Balkan Campaigns, but this incident is too early.

I presume that the only German bases within range were in North Africa, but I haven't got any of Shores' books on that theatre.

Otherwise, it might be an Italian aircraft from Rhodes.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Sid, in the book by Shores about air war over Greece and Yugoslavia, the action starts in October 1940 (with even some events reported from June), and there is a specific chapter on what happens at sea and in Crete area before April 1941.

[Sid Guttridge]

Hi Laurent,

Thanks. I checked and you are right.

The book doesn't answer my question specifically, but if the Brazilian identification of the aircraft as German is correct, it was most probably a He111 of II/KG26 based on Rhodes.

Cheers,

Sid.