Baltimore AG699 - South of Pantelleria 15 June 1942

[Lorenzo]

Good evening

According to the following article: https://publicnewstime.com/science-n...inally-solved/
the Baltimore AG699 left at 12.45am on June 15, 1942 from Luqa for a reconnaissance mission but it came down off the island of Linosa for unspecific reasons.

According to the book "Storia degli aerei Reggiane e del Gruppo Caproni - Il caccia RE2000" (Sergio Govi - Giorgio Apostolo Editore - 1983), during day 15, three RE2000 fighters of the 377 squadrgilia (pilots Marcolini, Torchio and Sgubbi) carried out five cover missions for the VII naval Division of the Regia Marina to south of Pantelleria.
During the first mission Marcolin machine gunned a Bristol Blenheim. During the fourth mission Marcolin and Sgubbi claimed to have shot down another Blenheim.

Anyone have more information on the fate of the Baltimore AG699? Is it possible that there is a link between the episodes mentioned above?

Thanks for any help

Lorenzo

[Revi16]

Maybe something here, http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...php?uniq=AG699

[Alex Smart]

Hello Lorenzo,
From Tony Woods files
"15.06.42 - Ltn. Franz Schiess - 17 - Stab/JG 53 - Beaufighter - 500m - Insel Linosa - Tiefflug - 15.15 - Film C , 2033/I - Anerk: Nr 101".

Not unusual for Pilot in combat to miss-identify his opponent.

Also lost in the Mediterranean area on the 15th June 1942 were -
14 Sqdn lost 2 Blenheim 's in the Egyptian area.
39 Sqdn lost 3 Beaufort's in the Mediterranean area.
69 Sqdn lost 2 Baltimore 's in the Mediterranean area.
227 Sqdn lost a Beaufighter I in the Mediterranean area.
235 Sqdn lost a Beaufighter VIc in the Mediterranean area.
272 Sqdn lost 2 Beaufighter Ic's in the Mediterranean area.
159 Sqdn lost a Liberator in the Egyptian area.
These losses are from the Henk Welting's files.

Alex

[Lorenzo]

Thanks everyone for the answers.
I am vero intrigued by this episode because It Is possibile that It Is the only claim attributable to a RE2000 of the Regia Aeronautica in WW2.

Good morning to you all

Lorenzo

[Alex Smart]

Hello Lorenzo,

I am sending you a PM.

Alex

[Lorenzo]

Hello Alex

Thanks for all the information you sent me.

Now it seems clear to me that the Baltimore AG699 was attacked and shot down by Franz Schiess, while I think it is possible that Munro's Baltimore is the one attacked by Captain Luciano Marcolin south of Pantelleria in the first mission of the 377a Squadriglia.

Have a good day

Lorenzo

[Alex Smart]

Hi,
That was my thoughts as well.
All the best
Alex