Claims of 150° Italian Gruppo in Albania 1940

[focusfocus]

Daniele

YES,if you can.

michel

[Daniele Gatti]

About 18 and 26 december, we're waiting (dogfights against Bristol Blenheim)... Brian surely reply... :-)

03/12/1940:

2 PZL P.24 (of six sighted near Korciano) claims shot down shared by nine pilots of 363ª Squadriglia (150º Gruppo) together another three of 393ª Squadriglia (160º Gruppo).

363ª Squadriglia:

Cap. Mariotti (CO)
S.ten. Atti
S.ten. Drago
S.ten. Di Robilant
S.ten. Della Costanza
Serg.magg. Zanlucchi
Serg.magg. Benassi
Serg.magg. Biolcati
Serg. Micheli

393ª Squadriglia:

Magg. Molinari (CO of 160º Gruppo)
S.ten. Moretti
Serg.magg. Tarantini

All Italians planes returned without damages on the base.

Regards, Daniele.

[focusfocus]

Great!

Therefore wait for others dates.

Thank you very much Daniele
Best Regards
michel

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Daniele (for both updates)

Only problem is that your present statement re 3/12/40 now clash somewhat with what Malizia said in the book co-authored with Shores/Cull.

I seems Malizia was unaware that 363a Sq was subordinated Magg Molinari during this mission. He also states Molinari, Moretti and Tarrantini claimed one aircraft each while a fourth and two probables were claimed shared with other pilots (obviously those from 363a Sq)

Very nice to have all the new details coming out from Italian archives after so many years!! Pity the MM numbers are still unknown or hard to come by.

Cheers
Stig

PS: Sorry Michel, I only quoted from what you said in your initial message

[Daniele Gatti]

Yes, you are right ... in part the claims are a bit different ...

[Stig Jarlevik]

Cheers Daniele
Stig

[Daniele Gatti]

The two diaries...

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Daniele, very, very interesting (to me)!

First time I see any Italian war diary...now where is my Italian language hat?...

If I understand these two diaries correctly, it seems to me they chose to differ a bit. Presumably both are, should we say, somewhat 'selfish'? That is of course quite natural, hence the need for a superior Government agency who thus should make a final evaluation and decision. Looks like Malizia read the 160o Gruppo diary but not the 150th.

Anyway, it also shows how problematic such diaries can be. Should we trust one or the other or perhaps even both? Being an aviation historian is not always easy....

Cheers
Stig

[Daniele Gatti]

Exactly Stig,

in truth we should also read Diari of Squadriglia, very accurate, but now are not in my hands, or read Relazioni Operative of theese missions.

[Hyperion]

On 3 December 1940 over the region of Moschopolis 6 PZLs of 23 Sq. fought against CR-42s.
Only one PZL was lost with P/Officer Konstantinos Tsetsas.
RHAF had only 36 PZLs .If all Italian pilot claims taken into account the number is 2-3 times over the total RHAF strength.