Blenheim losses 09.07.41

[fireship]

Hi Folks,

i search for Blenheim serials of the 110 Squadron
lost on 09.07.41 near Tripoli.
This was the first mission of 110 sq. after arriving
in Malta from the UK in early July.
I Know that Sergente Maggiore Aldo Buvoli
was cretited with four victorys on this day.

TIA
Fireship

[Blenheim]

Hello Fireship,

The following four Blenheims were lost by 110 Squadron on 9th July, 1941:

Z6449. Blenheim Mk IV. Served with 110 Squadron. 09/07/41 with 110 Squadron at Wattisham but detached to Luqa, Malta, and missing from an attack on shipping off Tripoli. S/L D.H.Seale, F/Sgt F.B.Mulford and F/Sgt W.H.McDougall were all killed and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Z9533. Blenheim Mk IV. Served with 110 Squadron. 09/07/41 with 110 Squadron at Wattisham but detached to Luqa and shot down by fighters from a shipping attack off Tripoli. Sgt W.Twist, Sgt D.Allen and Sgt S.Taylor survived and were made PoW.

Z9537. Blenheim Mk IV. Served with 110 Squadron. 09/07/41 with 110 Squadron at Wattisham but detached to Luqa and missing from a shipping attack off Tripoli. F/L M.E.Potier was killed and is buried in Tripoli War Cemetery, F/L T.Griffith-Jones was captured and the WOp/AG (originally believed to have been Sgt D.Wythe but this name does not appear on the CWGC lists) was killed.

Z9578. Blenheim Mk IV. Served with 110 Squadron. 09/07/41 with 110 Squadron at Wattisham but detached to Luqa and missing from a shipping attack off Tripoli. P/O W.H.Lowe, Sgt R.E.Baird and Sgt H.Lummus were all killed.

I hope this was of use to you and I would be interested in any information you maght have on the cause of these four losses, flak or fighters.

All the best,

Blenheim

[fireship]

Hi Hugh,
thanks for the info.
I don't know the facts, but
i have the follow information from
Orsprey Aircraft of the Aces Nr. 34.
Sergente Maggiore Aldo Buvoli 378 Squadriglia
155°Gruppo Autonomo took-off alone on the evining
of 9 July 1941 to patrol over Tripoli harbour, and
duly intercepted seven Blenheims sent to attack
shipping in the area. Diving in his G50bis on the
bombers as they performed a low-level attack on the port,
he chased the formation out to sea, firing at each one of
them in sequence. Buvoli was subsequently credited with
four kills, 110 Sqn reporting the loss of a similar number
of Blenheims IVs on its very first mission since arriving
in Malta from UK in early July.
Hope this helps.

Regards
Fireship

[Gianandrea Bussi]

According to the 378a Sq. record book ("diario") Buvoli saw 4-5 Blenheim out of the Tripoli harbour followed by two CR.42 of the 151° Gruppo. British bombers managed to outdistance the two biplanes. Buvoli attacked and shot down the formation leader and the last bomber of the fligth and shot at the other three Blenheim using all his ammunitions.
According to the 155° Gruppo record one Blenheim was shot down by Buvoli
together the two 151° pilots; another one was shot down by Buvoli with the help of the two biplanes; a third one was shot down by Buvoli who damaged
two other ones.
In the Buvoli flight book he is credited with the distruction of two Blenheim
and the distruction of a third one with the help of other personnel.
Buvoli got the Medaglia d'Argento al Valor Militare for his behaviour during this combat: in the "motivazione" for this medal he was credited with the destruction of one bomber, the distruction of two other bomber together other personnel and the damaging of some other bombers.
According to the 366a and 368a Sq. record books, the two CR.42 pilots, m.llo Montanari and serg. Ambrosi,were credited with a Blenheim each.
The bulletin of the italian HQ of Armed Forces of 10 july stated that the formation was formed by seven bombers and that two were s/d by figthers and two other by flak!!!!

So, quite a mess.....

Regards

Gianandrea Bussi