Reggiane Re.2002 Vittorio Valenza Corfu/Greece

[mimithem]

Hello to the team! Uploading this thread in order to ask for any possible information regarding a crash-sea-landing of an italian Re.2002 belonging to the Aeronautica del Sud (Allied Italian Air Force) in September 1943. On the 18th of this month, a Reggiane that took off from Manduria was hit (most probably) by german Ar196, and as a result is ditched into the shallow sea, just east of Corfu town. The wreck still stands underwater after so many years, almost in perfect situation. A local young diver has also uploaded a relative video of the aicraft:
https://youtu.be/FBuGvsjktc8


News also reached the Reggio Emilia, where a local newspaper dedicated one article on this aircraft:
https://gazzettadireggio.gelocal.it/...rfu-1.11614456


The airplane belonged to 239a Squadriglia of 102o Gruppo, flown by Vittorio Valenza who survived the ditch and was collected by the italian army on Corfu. No further details are known. What I would like to know is the serial number of this aircraft (M.M.****) and the individual red number on its fuselage next to the "239" recognition. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.


Themis

[Lorenzo]

Good morning

According to the book "Il Walzer del 102° Gruppo" (Giuseppe Pesce - Stem Mucchi Modena - 1976), the mission in question was the third of the 5° Stormo on that day (13.35-15.35).
It was performed by three RE2002, with the following pilots:
- Ten. Valenza
- S. Ten. Pezzano
- Sergente Garotti

According to Sergeant Garotti's report, he followed Pezzano in a dive to attack a large unidentified boat, and, during the dive, Garotti saw three aircraft of an unspecified type flying over a ditched seaplane. Dropped the bombs, the two pilots returned to Manduria, discovering only upon landing that Tenente Valenza had not returned. Garotti, after the release of the bomb, was unable to machine-gun the target due to a malfunction of the weapons on board.

There aren't in the book news about Serial Numbers of the involved aircrafts.

I hope this informations are useful to you.

Lorenzo

[Gianandrea Bussi]

In the same book quoted by Lorenzo the author write that Ten. Valenza became POW of the german and was released at the end of the war. The information is reliable because Giuseppe Pesce attended the Accademia Aeronautica in the same class (corso Urano) and then served with him in the 5° Stormo after the war: so he knew Valenza very well.


Unluckily I've found non mention of the MM of the RE 2002 in my books/documents.


Gianandrea