RAF / WDAF Losses October 2 1942

[Tem. Gianluca Missi]

I'm trying to trace all of the losses and victories claimed by any RAF / WDAF unit on October the 2nd 1942 , theatre of operation North Africa .

This in order to be able to give a name and a unit to the fighter that shoot down Cap. Livio Ceccotti in the skies of El Alamein .

Thanks in advance for any help.

Gianluca Missi

[Christer Bergström]

Due to "Luftkampf zwischen Sand und Sonne" (German edition of "Fighters over the Desert"), Shores and Ring conclude that it is possible that 4 Stormo's Cap. Livio Ceccotti and Ten. Ezio Bevalique were shot down in a combat with 112 Sqn, whereby Sgt. MacAuley claimed one shot down (the pilot reportedly bailing out) and Sgt. Neill was credited with a probable victory. This seems to have taken place in the late afternoon. No Allied losses are mentioned.

Allied losses on 2 Oct 1942 in North Africa due to the source above:

1) The Kittyhawk of 112 Sqn's Sgt. Rae exploded during a training flight after taking off at 1000 hrs.

2) The Spitfire of 601 Sqn's Sgt. Allen-Rowlandson belly-landed due to battle damage, apparently toward the evening.

[Tem. Gianluca Missi]

Hi ,

thanks for your help what do you think about ... :

-that day Cap. Ceccotti shot down two of his opponents victories credited by both his comrades and troops on ground (Giulio Lazzati "I soliti quattro gatti")
-from what you quote Sgt.MacAuley is probably the pilot who strafed Cap. Ceccotti after he bailed out and was descendig by parachute this had multiple witnesses and granted a postumous Medaglia d'Oro al Valor Militare (Military Gold Medal for valour ) to Cap. Ceccotti .

Maybe you can help me sort this out ???

Gian