Italy
Tenente Raoul Francinetti
Italy
Tenente Raoul Francinetti
| Year Gazetted | Decoration | Note |
| 1941 | Medaglia d'argento al valor militare | 1940-43 |
| 1942 | Croce di guerra al valor militare | 1940-43 |
Raoul Francinetti was from Torino.
In February 1941 Francinetti served in the 394a Squadriglia, 160o Gruppo C.T. At this time this unit took part in the Greek campaign and was equipped with Fiat CR.42s.
On 9 February 1941 18 S.79s from the 104o Gruppo were out to bomb in the Kelcyre-Tepelene area. These bombers were escorted by twelve Fiat G.50bis fighters from the 24o Gruppo led by Maggiore Eugenio Leotta, and twelve Fiat CR.42s from the 160o Gruppo, led by Tenente Edoardo Crainz. Four Greek Gladiators of 21 Mira (Sminagos Ioanis Kellas (CO of 21 Mira), Anthiposminagos Anastasios Bardivilias, Episminias Ilias Dimitrakopoulos and Episminias Nikolaos Kostorizos) and eight PZLs from 22 and 23 Mire intercepted the formation.
The Greek fighters didn’t manage to penetrate the fighter screen and a series of hectic dogfights started with the Italian escort. Overclaiming was heavy on both sides and the Greek pilots claimed eight enemy fighters, Kellas claimed two while Bardivilias, Dimitrakopoulos and Kostorizos claimed one enemy aircraft each. Episminas Epaminondas Dagoulas of 22 Mira claimed one fighter while Yposminagos Marinos Mitralexes from the same unit claimed one fighter over Berat; Mitralexes also claimed one additional fighter and a probable during the combat. The Greek Army confirmed the eight victories, and this was also confirmed by a Mr. Roussos, a journalist of the newspaper ELEYTHERON BHMA, who was on the ground with the troops as a war correspondent. His report is a first-hand account and also gives the enthusiasm of the Greek soldiers while the Italian planes fell to the ground.
The Gladiators flown by Kellas and Dimitrakopoulos were both hard hit during the combat but it was possible to repair these fighters. Yposminagos Kotronis was shot down, but he managed to force-land his PZL, totally destroying it in the process. He escaped, however, only lightly wounded. A second PZL was shot up by three fighters and Episminias (Sergeant) John Michopoulos of 22 Mira was wounded in the thigh, but he managed to get back to Salonika/Sedes and land. Other aircraft returned damaged.
The G.50bis pilots in return claimed one Gladiator and three PZLs shot down, while the pilots from the 160o Gruppo submitted claims for three Gladiators (one each by Tenente Crainz, Sergente Maggiore Luciano Tarantini and Sergente Maggiore Aurelio Munich) and two PZLs (Sottotenente Francinetti and Sergente Antonio Crabbia).
It seems that no Italian fighters were lost on this occasion.
On 28 February 1941, HQ ‘W’ Wing ordered that all available aircraft should patrol between Tepelene and the coast between 15:30 and 16:30, since Intelligence sources indicated the operation of large numbers of Italian aircraft in that area at that time. Hence during the morning all available Gladiators of 80 and 112 Squadrons were flown up to Paramythia in preparation for this action. Patrols were flown during the morning by flights of Hurricanes, but nothing was seen.
At about 15:00 Squadron Leader Harry Brown and Squadron Leader Edward Jones led of eleven Gladiators of 112 Squadron and seven of 80 Squadron to patrol over the designated area; they were accompanied by the ‘W’ Wing leader, Wing Commander Patric Coote, flying an 80 Squadron Gladiator. Fifteen minutes later Flight Lieutenant ‘Pat’ Pattle in Hurricane V7589 led Flying Officer Nigel Cullen (V7138), Flying Officer Wanklyn Flower (V6749) and Flying Officer Richard Acworth (V7288) to the same area, while Flight Lieutenant Young led four 33 Squadron Hurricanes to patrol near the coast. Here some S.79s were seen and chased over Corfu, two being claimed damaged, one of them by Pilot Officer D. S. F. Winsland (Winsland was later during the war shot down by Bernardino Serafini). These were probably 105o Gruppo B.T. aircraft, which reported being attacked by Spitfires, one Savoia landing at Tirana with one member of the crew dead.
Meanwhile Pattle’s section spotted BR.20s of the 37o Stormo B.T. flying south from Valona; they identified the ten-strong formation as comprising 15 aircraft, while the bomber crews reported being attacked by 18 ‘Spitfires’! Pattle selected one on the starboard flank of the formation, and after three short bursts it broke into flames and went down; a second bomber likewise burst into flames following a further attack by Pattle, and his windscreen was covered in oil from this doomed aircraft. Reducing speed, Pattle attempted to clean the screen with his scarf, but he was then attacked by five G.50bis which dived on him. After a brief skirmish he managed to get away and returned to Paramythia. Both Flower and Acworth also claimed BR.20s. although the latter thought his victim may have been a Z.1007bis. Flying Officer Cullen reported considerable success in the run of claims which was to bring him the award of an immediate DFC. He later recalled:
”The battle extended right across Albania. First I found four Breda 20s (sic). I got one, which went down in flames Then we found three formations of S.79s. I took on one and aimed at the starboard engine. It caught fire, and crashed in flames. I climbed and dived on the next - and he too crashed in flames. Then we attacked ten CR.42s, climbing to get above them. I got behind one, and he caught fire and went down in flames. Up again immediately, dived, fired into the cockpit, and another took fire, rolled over and crashed. I had to come home then - no more ammo.”Three BR.20s were in fact shot down during this combat and a fourth force-landed near Otranto. Three BR.20Ms from the 277a Squadriglia, 116o Gruppo were shot down and known killed were aircraft commanders Tenente Antonio Zanetti and Sottotenente Leonetto Zilioli and the pilots Tenente Giuseppe Valerio, Sergente Maggiore Aldo Monicolini and Sergergente Gualtiero Favalini. A forth BR.20M (MM22641/220-1) from the 220a Squadriglia, 55o Gruppo made an emergency landing in the Otranto area and being damaged (it was broken up in 1943 by the SRAM Lecce but it’s not known if this was due to combat damage sustained on 28 February). Other BR.20s returned with wounded crewmembers aboard, plus one dead.
”The old Glad suddenly went all soft. Nothing would work. I sat there and then decided I had better get out. I couldn’t, so I sat there with my hands on my lap, the aircraft spinning like mad. Then, eventually, I did manage to get out. It was so pleasant sitting there in the air than I damn nearly forgot to pull the ripcord. I reckon I did the record delayed drop for all Albania and Greece. I landed, and no sooner had I fallen sprawling on the ground than I was picked up by Greek soldiers who cheered and patted me on the back. I thought I was a hell of a hero until one soldier asked me. "Milano, Roma?" and I realized that they thought I was an Iti. They didn’t realize it was possible for an Englishman to be shot down. So I said "Inglese", and then the party began. I was hoisted on their shoulders, and the "here the conquering hero comes" procession started. We wined and had fun. Jolly good chaps.”Pilot Officer Vale reported:
“At 1530, eight Hurricanes and 19 Gladiators took off from Paramythia on an offensive patrol over the Hilmara-Tepelini area. I was leading No.3 Flight of Gladiators at 13,000 feet [4000m]. At approximately 1545, I observed a formation of enemy bombers away to starboard and gave ‘Tally-ho!’ but as they were a long way off no action was taken.Following his initial combats, Pattle had returned to Paramythia, landed, and taken off again ten minutes later in another Hurricane (V7724). Returning to the battle area, he spotted three CR.42s in formation, heading back towards Valona:
‘Tally-ho!’ was then given for bombers approaching from the sea and also to our starboard. The front formation of Gladiators went into attack the ones to port and the last three sections went to starboard. I observed five bombers approaching from starboard and put my flight into line astern and carried out a head-on attack, which did not bring anything down. I carried out a rear quarter attack but the cross fire was thick, so I left the bombers. I then saw a G.50 coming south in a valley, and so half-rolled down onto it but it put its nose down and got out of range. Another Gladiator dived down onto it and I last saw it with small bursts of smoke coming from it, diving down at the side of a hill. I then observed another G.50 pulling up under the other Gladiator and so I carried out a quarter attack and at very short range. It pulled round and after another burst from astern went down out of control into the valley.
I pulled up and saw enemy bombers coming from the coast and carried a quarter head-on without any effect. Another enemy bomber broke had broken away from the formation and was losing height and heading north, so I carried out a vertical downwards attack and finished close up in astern, firing at the port engine until the e/a started to turn to port, put its nose down and went down into the sea about three or four miles south of the point. I climbed up and observed one more Gladiator heading for base and so I followed and landed at 1755. My aircraft was not damaged."
”I got behind them and put a long burst into all three. One went down vertically at once, but in case it was a trick I followed him. He was in difficulties, that was most obvious, and when it looked as if he was going straight into the sea I decided to go and see what the other two were up to. As I climbed again I was most surprised to see two parachutes float down past me.”On his return, Pattle claimed two destroyed, those from which he had seen the pilots come down by parachute, and one probable for that which he had followed down. Just before he got back to Paramythia for the second time at 17:40, Flying Officer Flower, who had returned an hour earlier, also took off for a second patrol over the area after his Hurricane had been refuelled and rearmed. There was nothing to be seen - the battle was over.
Tenente Francinetti was decorated with the Medaglia d’argento al valor militare (gazetted 1941) for his actions over Greece between 28 October 1940 and 28 February 1941:
"Young and daring fighter pilot, he participated as a patrol leader in the most dangerous war flights of his unit, distinguishing himself for bravery and skill in numerous strafing actions at ground level. In two air combats fought in enemy skies against overwhelming enemy forces, he personally shot down one opponent and contributed to the downing of five others. Wounded in one limb and with his plane damaged, instead of seeking safety by parachute, he returned to the starting base, over 100 kilometres away."
Skies of Greece, 28 October 1940 – 28 February 1941-XIX.
Tenente Francinetti was decorated with the Croce di guerra al valor militare (gazetted 1942) for his actions over Yugoslavia and Greece in April 1941:
"Bold fighter pilot, he participated in risky strafing actions on enemy positions and troops. During the attack on a distant enemy airfield, with daring low-level strafing, he contributed to the destruction of eleven enemy aircraft."
Skies of Greece and Yugoslavia, April 1941-XIX.
In the beginning of March 1942, Regia Aeronautica spotted Chad-based Free French forces led by G n ral Jacques-Philippe Leclerc intruding into the Fezzan desert area, in the southern part of Libya, to harass Italian garrisons in order to distract forces from the northern front. The Leclerc column was formed by four independent patrols, the aerial support being provided by the Groupe Bretagne, composed of Nates and Rennes Escadrilles. The former was led by Lieutenant Jean Mah and had four Martin Marylands (ex-French Martin 167s, known simply as Glenns ) and a Potez 540. The latter, commanded by Lieutenant Marcel Finance, had five Lysanders and three Potez 29s.
Leclerc had moved from Chad on 17 February and ten days later surprised and overwhelmed the small garrison of Uigh el Kebir. Here he established his command post and on 28 February his forces managed to capture the Gatrun and Tegerri garrisons, but a patrol led by Capitaine Jacques Massu met strong resistance at Umm el Araneb and was forced to retreat.
As a result of the French aerial activity in Fezzan, Maggiore Michele Mandara, CO 160o Gruppo CT, deployed four CR.42s to Sebha, led by Tenente Eduardo Sorvillo (394a Squadriglia). The other three pilots were Sergente Maggiore Duilio Bernardi (393a Squadriglia), Sottotenente Piero Bertonasso (375a Squadriglia) and Sergente Maggiore Antonino Malavasi (394a Squadriglia). A single S.79 of 175a Squadriglia RST was also sent as reinforcement, flown by Tenente Giuseppe Pellizzotti.
The CR.42s undertook their first sortie from Sebha on 6 March, hunting French vehicles between there and Zuila, but without result.
On 7 March, the four CR.42s at Sebha moved to Umm el Araneb. After a reconnaissance to Gatrun, while on the ground at Umm el Araneb, they were bombed and strafed by the French Lysander P9197 of the Rennes Escadrilla, flown by Lieutenant Marcel Finance. The fighter of Tenente Eduardo Sorvillo (MM7627/394-8) was set on fire, the pilot suffering severe injuries, while Sottotenente Piero Bertonasso’s CR.42 was slightly damaged.
The pair of Fiats still serviceable took off immediately, flown by Sergente Maggiore Duilio Bernardi and Sergente Maggiore Antonino Malavasi to hunt for the hostile aircraft. Sergente Maggiore Malavasi found the Lysander and fired at it repeatedly, forcing it to land in the desert trailing smoke. Lieutenant Finance took the gunner Sergent Chef Fernand Leroy, who had been wounded in the leg, out of the Lysander and sought the cover of the smoke. It proved only to be a smoke bomb hit by a bullet from Malavasi’s guns.
Meanwhile, Malavasi flew for some time over the grounded aircraft without attacking it further. Convinced that he had inflicted irreparable damage, he then departed. This allowed Finance, having got the gunner back on board, to take off and fly back to Uigh el Kebir.
Malavasi reported the mission as between 14:00 and 14:40.
At Umm el Araneb meantime, the wounded Sorvillo was put in an S.79 called to the spot and flown to Castel Benito.
The S.79 (MM21465) flown by Tenente Pellizzotti subsequently crashed at Sebha for unknown reasons, all crew being killed.
On 8 March, two more 160o Gruppo CR.42s were flown down to Sebha by Tenente Francinetti and Sergente Maggiore Aurelio Munich to replace the two which had been destroyed. Meanwhile, however, all the French aircraft left the area, retiring to their base at Faya in Chad, leaving Leclerc’s patrol without air cover.
The next day, on 9 March, Tenente Francinetti and Sergente Maggiore Munich strafed Capitaine Massu’s patrol, leaving one vehicle in flames and others damaged. Francinetti’s CR.42 was slightly damaged by small-arms fire.
In the afternoon Tenente Francinetti, Sergente Maggiore Malavasi and Sergente Maggiore Munich again attacked Massu’s troops, this time near Uigh el Kebir, ten small trucks were claimed destroyed and others damaged.
On 30 March an Italian patrol of 3o Compagnia Sahariana found the wreck of eight French vehicles. At this point the first Fezzan Campaign was at an end, French forces returning to Chad and the Italians garrisons being re-established.
On 24 June 1943, there were heavy combats over Sardinia when at 07:00 P-38s of the 14th Fighter Group set off for Alghero, Sardinia, followed 45 minutes later by P-40s of the 325th FG. On arrival the 14th Group's pilots claimed seven Bf 109s shot down, two probables and three damaged over Alghero airfield between 07:00-11:30. All claims were made by the 37th FS were the destroyed were claimed by 1st Lieutenant Hubert M. Blair (two destroyed), 2nd Lieutenant John S. Garbett, 1st Lieutenant James M. Hollingsworth, Captain Carl F. Rudder (two destroyed) and 1st Lieutenant George D. Wightman. The probables were claimed by Lieutenant Kenneth L. Waldron and Captain Robert H. Wilson. The damaged were claimed by Captain Carl F. Rudder, 2nd Lieutenant John D. Joyce and Captain Robert H. Wilson.
The 14th FG lost two P-38s when P-38G 43-2360 from the 37th FS was shot down near Villanova at 10:00 with 2nd Lieutenant Harold R. Alexander becoming a PoW and a P-38G from the 49th FS with 2nd Lieutenant William D. Nealy III being KiA.
The P-40s from 325th FG swept over the southern part of Sardinia where they were heavily attacked by fighters and engaged in dogfights during which the US pilots claimed five Messerschmitt Bf 109s. Captain Bunn Hearn Jr. (325th FG) claimed one 89 km south-east of Cap Spartivento between 07:45-10:35 while the other four were claimed by pilots from the 318th FS: Flight Officer Bill H. Slattery (P-40F 41-19904) claimed one at 09:05 over Sardinia, Flight Officer Mark P. Boone (P-40L 42-10887) claimed one at 09:15 over Gulf of Palmas, 2nd Lieutenant Roy Burton Hogg (P-40L #950) claimed one at 09:15 over Gulf of Palmas and 1st Lieutenant Rayburn D. Lancaster (P-40L #447) claimed one at 09:25 over Sardinia.
The 325th FG lost three P-40s when P-40F 41-19947 from the 318th FS was hit by Flak and spun into the water just off the coast with 2nd Lieutenant Rufus G. Rappman being KiA, P-40F 41-19916 from the 319th FS failed to return and 2nd Lieutenant Andrew L. Bollich was KiA and P-40L 42-10479 was hit by enemy fighters and crash-landed in the target area with 2nd Lieutenant Francis S. Blifford Jr. being KiA.
The P-40s from the 325th FG seems to have been engaged by Bf 109 Gs from JG 51, which claimed three destroyed (reported as P-40Es?) and one probable when Oberfeldwebel Otto Schultz (4./JG 51) claimed one destroyed at 09:15 at 500 meters altitude, Leutnant Siegfried Müller (5,/JG 51) claimed one destroyed at 09:35 at 40 meters altitude and Unteroffizier Helmut Piwowarski (6./JG 51) claimed one destroyed at 09:35 at 40 meters altitude. The probable was claimed by an unknown pilot. One P-40 was also claimed by Maggiore Riccardo Rovere in a Fiat G.55 of the 20o Gruppo south of Cape Teulada (take off 09:00). This was possibly the first claim made with the Fiat G.55.
Bf 109 G-6 Wnr. 18093 from 5./JG 51 was shot down south-west of Botte but the pilot was safe.
At 09:50, 52 more P-38s, this time from the 1st FG, escorted 34 B-26s of 319th BG to bomb the Chilivani railway junction in northern Sardinia, but 26 of these fighters lost formation and returned early. A further wave of 52 P-38s of the 82nd FG headed for Golfo Aranci, escorting 36 B-25s of the 321st BG.
The 1st FG pilots who reached the target area at Chilivani at 09:50 claimed a further eight Bf 109s plus two probables and five damaged. From the 27th FS 1st Lieutenant Charles W. Brown claimed one destroyed while 1st Lieutenant Gilbert E. Butler claimed two. The remaining claims were made by the 94th FS where Captain Otto H. Wellensiek claimed two destroyed while 2nd Lieutenant James E. Bower, 2nd Lieutenant Harry C. Newsome (plus one additional as a damaged) and 1st Lieutenant Leonard P. Stephan, Harry C., all claimed one destroyed. The probables were claimed by 2nd Lieutenant Robert G. Holcombe and 1st Lieutenant Benton E. Miller while the last damaged were claimed by 2nd Lieutenant Albert W. Fell, Lieutenant William D. Jacobsen, 2nd Lieutenant John D. Pace and 2nd Lieutenant Phillip A. Sager Jr.
1st FG lost three P-38s with nine more damaged. The lost Lightnings were P-38G 42-12910 from the 27th FS, which was shot down around 10:00 over Chilivani with 2nd Lieutenant David M. Conn KiA, P-38G 42-13246 from the 27th FS, which was shot down at 10:00 over Chilivani with 2nd Lieutenant Thorman R. Nielson PoW and P-38G 42-12918 from the 94th FS, which was shot down around 10:10 over Oristano with 2nd Lieutenant John A. Hay KiA.
One of the 319th BG's B-26s was also shot down; this bomber was in fact from the 441st BS, 320th BG, that lost B-26B 41-17874, which crash-landed at base with 1st Lieutenant Paul M. Karlowitz and the five of his crew safe. The bombing did, however, sink the Italian steamer Cor Jesu (3,993 tons).
Finally, at 10:30 the 82nd FG's 2nd Lieutenant Louis E. Curdes (P-38G-5 from the 95th FS) claimed one destroyed MC.202 over Golfo Aranci. At the same the gunners in the 321st BG's B-25s claimed two Bf 109s shot down, one more as a probable and two damaged over Olbia. The two shot down were claimed by engineer Staff Sergeant Joseph C. Kovis in B-25 41-13008 from the 446th BS and gunner Corporal Leo W. Wilson in B-25 42-53371 from the 447th BS.
Against the P-38s, Bf 109 G pilots from III./JG 77 claimed 14 destroyed and three probably. These were claimed by:
Leutnant Fritz Wilke (7./JG 77) west of Bosa at 600 meters altitude at 09:54
Oberleutnant Eberhard Niese (7./JG 77) west of Bosa at low altitude at 09:55
Oberfeldwebel Eduard Isken (8./JG 77) west of Tresnuraghes at 600 meters altitude at 09:55
Major Kurt Ubben (Stab III./JG 77) west of Bosa at 3000 meters altitude at 09:55
Oberfeldwebel Johann Pichler (7./JG 77) east of Montresta at 100 meters altitude at 09:56
Unteroffizier Wilhelm Skreba (9./JG 77) north-west of Bosa at 1500 meters altitude at 10:00
Oberfeldwebel Eduard Isken (8./JG 77) north-west of Oristano at 100 meters altitude at 10:02
Feldwebel Luicke (9./JG 77) north-west of Oristano at 10:03
Leutnant Wolfgang Ernst (9./JG 77) north-west of Oristano at 200 meters altitude at 10:03
Unteroffizier Glien (9./JG 77) north-west of Oristano at 1000 meters altitude at 10:05
Unteroffizier Karl-Heinz Böttner (8./JG 77) north-west of Oristano at 700 meters altitude at 10:10
Leutnant Joachim Grun (9./JG 77) north-west of Oristano at 10:10
Unteroffizier Robert Koch (7./JG 77) west of Oristano at 1000 meters altitude at 10:12
Major Kurt Ubben (Stab III../JG 77) south-west of Oristano at 1200 meters altitude at 10:15
Feldwebel Richard Förster (8./JG 77) (probably destroyed)
Oberfeldwebel Heinrich Hackler (8./JG 77) (probably destroyed)
Hauptmann Emil Omert (8./JG 77) (probably destroyed)
III./JG 77 lost two Bf 109 G-6s when WNr. 18160 was shot down by P-38s south of Villanova with the pilot safe and WNr. 16587 Yellow 2 from 9./JG 77 suffered 70 % damage in combat with P-38s and crash-landed at Chilivani with Leutnant Gerhard Hanf WiA.
The Italian fighters claimed a total of seven destroyed, three probably and one damaged by the MC.202 and Re.2001 pilots of the 20o (see above), 24o and 160o Gruppi. There was some of the usual misidentification of the US types involved, claims also being made for two Bostons and a probable (probably B-26s) and for two B-24s as probables near Olbia - but there were no four-engined bombers in this area.
The MC.202s from the 24o Gruppo made their claims between 09:55-10:50 when Sottotenente Antonio Longhini (355a Squadriglia) claimed one P-38 destroyed, Tenente Tullio Giovanni (355a Squadriglia) claimed one P-38 destroyed and a second damaged 30 km off Tavolara and Sergente Deplano Mazzini (355a Squadriglia) claimed one Boston probably destroyed near Olbia. While reportedly flying a Re.2001, Sergente Maggiore Renato Mazzotti (370a Squadriglia) claimed one P-38 near Olbia between 10:20-11:00.
The Re.2001s from the 160o Gruppo made their claims near Olbia between 10:20-11:00. Claiming pilots were Maresciallo Osvaldo Scuffi (375a Squadriglia), who claimed one Boston destroyed between 10:20-10:50, Capitano Livio Forasteri (375a Squadriglia), who claimed one Boston destroyed, Sergente Maggiore Antonio Crabbia (394a Squadriglia), who claimed one P-38 destroyed, Tenente Francinetti (394a Squadriglia), who claimed one B-24 probably destroyed and Sergente Maggiore Bruno Valenti (394a Squadriglia), who claimed one B-24 probably destroyed.
Italian losses was only one MC.205 from 353a Squadriglia, 20o Gruppo, which failed to return after a scramble from Capoterra with Sergente Giusto Giusti being MiA. Two Re.2001s from 375a Squadriglia were damaged in combat with Capitano Livio Forasteri being safe and Maresciallo Osvaldo Scuffi safely force-landing his badly damaged fighter.
Finaly, Luftwaffe Flak at Venafiorita claimed one enemy aircraft destroyed.
On this occasion only the claims for P-40s had borne any semblance to the facts. This time it was not due to a plethora of claims being made by gunners in the bombers; these accounted for only two of the totals. During this morning's fighting in simple terms the Americans had claimed 22 Bf 109s and one Macchi destroyed, five probables and ten damaged against an Axis loss of three fighters shot down and three damaged, one badly enough to require a force-landing. But equally, the Axis pilots had claimed 26 destroyed (19 P-38s!), six probables and one damaged against a US loss of eight fighters destroyed, nine damaged and one bomber crash-landed.
Francinetti ended the war with 1 victory, this one claimed while flying Fiat CR.42s.
Claims:
| Kill no. | Date | Time | Number | Type | Result | Plane type | Serial no. | Locality | Unit |
| 1941 | |||||||||
| 1 | 09/02/41 | 1 | PZL P.24 (a) | Destroyed | Fiat CR.42 | Kelcyre-Tepelene area | 394a Squadriglia | ||
| 1943 | |||||||||
| 24/06/43 | 10:20-11:00 | 1 | B-24 (b) | Probably destroyed | Re.2001 | near Olbia | 394a Squadriglia |
Biplane victories: 1 destroyed.
TOTAL: 1 destroyed, 1 probably destroyed.
(a) Claimed in combat with fighters from 21, 22, 22 Mire. The 24o and 160o Gruppi claimed five PZLs and four Gladiators without loss. The Greek fighters claimed eight enemy fighters for the loss of one PZL while several more were damaged.
(b) US fighter and bombers claimed 23 destroyed, 5 probably destroyed and 10 damaged fighters while losing 8 fighters and 1 destroyed B-26. Axis fighters claimed 25 enemy aircraft destroyed and 6 probably destroyed and 1 damaged while losing 3 fighters and 3 damaged. Axis AA claimed 1 additional enemy aircraft.
Sources:
Ace of Aces: M T StJ Pattle - E C R Baker, 1992 Crécy Books, Somerton, ISBN 0-947554-36-X
A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940-1945: Volume Two - Christopher Shores and Giovanni Massimello with Russell Guest, Frank Olynyk & Winfried Bock, 2012 Grub Street, London, ISBN-13: 9781909166127
A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940-1945: Volume Four – Christopher Shores and Giovanni Massimello with Russell Guest, Frank Olynyk, Winfried Bock and Wg Cdr Andy Thomas, 2018 Grub Street, London, ISBN-13: 9781911621102
Air war for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete - Christopher Shores, Brian Cull and Nicola Malizia, 1987 Grub Street, London, ISBN 0-948817-07-0
Elenco Nominativo dei Militari dell A. M. Decorati al V. M. Durante it Periodo 1929 - 1945 1 Volume A - L
Gli Assi Italiani Della Regia Aeronautica - Givanni Massimello, 2023 Difesa Servizi SpA Edizioni Rivista
Shark Squadron - The history of 112 Squadron 1917-1975 - Robin Brown, 1994 Crécy Books, ISBN 0-947554-33-5
Istituto del Nastro Azzurro
Additional information kindly provided by Gianandrea Bussi, Pierpaolo Maglio and Dimitrios Vassilopoulos.
