Renato Talamini was born in Venice on 1 August 1917.

On 1 October 1939, he was commissioned (in Servizio Permanente Effettivo).

He was promoted to Tenente on 10 June 1940.

At 10:40 on 8 December, eight MC.202s from the 9^o Gruppo led by Capitano Ezio Viglione Borghese (96^a Squadriglia) commenced a patrol of the Ain el Gazala-Trigh Capuzzo-Tobruk area. They were followed by eleven MC.202s from the 17^o Gruppo (six from the 71^a Squadriglia, two from the 72^a Squadriglia and three from the 80^a Squadriglia), which took off at 11:30 to protect the coastal road between Ain el Gazala and Tobruk. These Macchis flew in vics disposed in echelon right at the height of 4000 metres.
It seems that both formations encountered the same Allied formation, which comprised 18 Blenheims drawn from two squadrons, escorted by Hurricanes from 274 and 1 SAAF Squadrons.
The situation at this time was very confusing. However, at 10:30, 84 Squadron Blenheims took off, targeting a very important concentration of vehicles in the area of El Adem. Cover was granted by eleven Hurricane IIB from 274 Squadron (take-off at 11:30), together while others from 1 SAAF Squadron (take-off at 11:30) were up to escort 18 Blenheims targeting the area of El Adem. The mission was considered very successful because 53 vehicles (of some 250 reported) were thought to be destroyed.
5-10 miles south-west of El Adem, 274 Squadron pilots saw a reported 30 Axis fighters; Bf 109s, MC.200s and MC.202s, coming from south-east while 1 SAAF Squadron continued to fly towards base with the bombers without seeing the enemy fighters. 274 Squadron, even if they thought to be heavily outnumbered, engaged the enemies. The Commonwealth pilots reported that the Macchis preferred to dogfight with the Hurricanes while the Bf 109s dove continuously.
The 9^o Gruppo attacked first and back at base, they reported they had met a dozen Hurricanes that were strafing Italian vehicles. The head of the Italian formation led the attack and Sottotenente Jacopo Frigerio (97^a Squadriglia) attacked four enemy fighters at several times; he then had to land at Z because his Macchi had run out of fuel. On spotting the enemy aircraft, Sottotenente Giovanni Barcaro (97^a Squadriglia) closed in to Capitano Viglione to warn him and together they attacked and shot down one enemy aircraft in flames. He subsequently fired on four more aircraft (totally using 184 rounds) before landing at Z.2 for refuelling. Maresciallo Otello Perotti (97^a Squadriglia) fired on two enemy aircraft (using 263 rounds) but couldn’t observe the effects. He landed at Z for refuelling and claimed a probable Hurricane. Another two enemy aircraft were claimed by Sergente Maggiore Bruno Spitzl (96^a Squadriglia) and Vittorio Pozzati (96^a Squadriglia). Tenente Fernando Malvezzi (96^a Squadriglia) hit a P-40 with a long burst but couldn’t assess the result because he was attacked from behind by another P-40.
Altogether, the 9^o Gruppo, which returned to base at 12:00, claimed four destroyed (Spitzl, Pozzati, Sergente Alfredo Bombardini (97^a Squadriglia) and the shared between Capitano Viglione and Sottotenente Barcaro). Ten more Hurricanes were claimed as damaged (three by Sottotenente Barcaro, two by Maresciallo Perotti, four by Sottotenente Frigerio and one by Malvezzi). Sergente Bombardini’s fighter (MM7739) was damaged and had to land at Ain el Gazala but the airfield had to be evacuated and the Macchi had to be destroyed there.
As 274 Squadron sought to return to base, they were hit by the 17^o Gruppo, which had taken off at 11:30 with eleven MC.202 (six from the 71^a Squadriglia, two from the 72^a Squadriglia and three from the 80^a Squadriglia) for a protective patrol of Axis troops retreating along the coastal strip between Ain el Gazala and Tobruk. The Macchis, keeping a wedge patrol formation on the right wing at an altitude of 4,000m, reported that they at 12:00 met a formation of fighters, claiming six of them shot down (Tenente Talamini (80^a Squadriglia) (Hurricane), Sottotenete Renato Bagnoli (80^a Squadriglia) (Tomahawk), Tenente Mario Carini (72^a Squadriglia) (Hurricane), Sottotenete Vittorio Bacchi Andreoli (71^a Squadriglia) (Tomahawk), Maresciallo Achille Martina (71^a Squadriglia) (Tomahawk) and Sottotenete Guido Modiano (72^a Squadriglia) (Hurricane). Sottotenente Ottorino Capellini (71^a Squadriglia) and Sergente Maggiore Mario Host (80^a Squadriglia) claimed a probable Tomahawk each. Totally the 71^a Squadriglia used 1270 rounds of ammunition while the 80^a Squadriglia used 1870. Tenente Carini (MM7758), hit in the cooling system, crash-landed near Bir le Fa while Tenente Talamini’s MC.202 was damaged in the left wing. The Italian fighters were back between 12:50 and 12:55.
The hard-pressed 274 Squadron claimed one Bf 109, one MC.202 (both by Sergeant James Dodds (Hurricane Z2835)) and two probables (Sergeant Robert Henderson (Z5367) and Sergeant R. H. N. Walsh (Z5435) and five damaged (between Squadron Leader Sidney Linnard (Z5064) (two MC.200s), Pilot Officer Patrick Moriarty (Z4015) (two MC.202s) and Pilot Officer George Keefer (BD880) (one Bf 109)).
Three Hurricanes were lost with one being seen going down vertically and one in flames. 26-year-old Flight Lieutenant Owen Vincent Tracey (RAF no. 42774) (Hurricane IIb BD885) and Sergeant Haines (Hurricane IIb Z5066) were missing while Sergeant John Paterson McDonnell was hit during the combat and crash-landed at Tobruk writing off his Hurricane IIb BE347. A fourth Hurricane IIb (Z5130) flown by Pilot Officer Thompson was also forced to land in Tobruk. 84 Squadron recorded that the escort lost four aircraft of the twelve present.
It is necessary to point out that the combat area reported in the documents of 274 Squadron and the 17^o Gruppo are different, however errors and misidentifications of locations were always possible and there were no matching German claims. For this reason, it seems likely that 274 Squadron fought against the 17^o Gruppo. The identification of Italian fighters as the opponents of 274 Squadron during this combat seems to be corroborated also by the account of Squadron Leader Linnard who while engaged by a Bf 109, saw a MC.200 attacking a Hurricane, both aircraft making steep turns and losing height. Linnard shook free from his own combat and tried to shot the Macchi off the other Hurricane’s tail, but was too late, bullets from the Italian fighter, which was turning inside the Hurricane, striking the area of the cockpit. The stricken aircraft then turned over at low level and dived into the ground several miles south of El Adem, bursting into flames. A little later squadron personnel met South African soldiers who reported that they had found a grave beside a wrecked Hurricane, and that on this was a flying helmet and the identity disc of Flight Lieutenant Tracey; it therefore seems probable that he had been the victim of the Macchi. The 20^o and 153^o Gruppi, which flew radial engined fighters, didn’t meet any Commonwealth fighter during the day even if they escorted Stukas three times and the MC.202 was a new machine in North Africa skies, easy to be confused with other types. It is interesting that 1 SAAF Squadron wasn’t aware of the combat. The number of enemy fighters estimated by 274 Squadron leads to think that probably other Axis fighters were up together with the MC.202s, in fact they could had been 15 Bf 109s that at taken off at 11:45 to escort Ju 87 even if they didn’t record encounters with enemy fighters.
It is also possibly that 80 Squadron was involved in this combat since Hurricane IIs of 80 Squadron had taken off at 10:55 from LG 133 to attack axis vehicles in the Acroma area. 40 of them, going west, were discovered and bombed by all Hurricanes. Afterwards six of these dived for strafing while the rest of the formation remained high to give cover. This high section attacked a formation of twelve enemy fighters (Bf 109s and MC.202s) protecting fighter-bombers that could go on with their action. Back at base the returning pilots were very pleased by the outcome of the action where they had claimed two Bf 109Fs confirmed (Flying Officer R. Reynolds (Z4801) and Sergeant Frank Mason (Z4786)) and a MC.202 probable and two damaged (Sergeant G. H. Whyte (Z4714)) without suffering any loss. It is possible that these were in combat with the 9^o Gruppo, which reported ground-strafing Hurricanes.

In April 1942, Tenente Renato Talamini served in 80^a Squadriglia, 17^o Gruppo C.T., in North Africa. This unit was at the time equipped with Macchi MC.202s.

On 3 April, both Gruppi of 1^o Stormo scrambled to intercept a formation of bombers escorted by fighters heading for Derna.
Nine MC.202s of the 6^o Gruppo (seven from the 79^a Squadriglia, one of the 81^a Squadriglia and one of the 88^a Squadriglia) took off at 10:15 led by Capitano Domenico Camarda (CO of the 79^a Squadriglia). Flying at the height of 4000 meters over Ain el Gazala, four Macchis reached the enemy formation and engaged the escort (whose planes were identified as P-46s – but obviously Kittyhawks). One of them was claimed shot down by Tenente Paolo Cattaneo (79^a Squadriglia) who saw his opponent landing hurriedly in Gazala. Maresciallo Giovanni Collovini (81^a Squadriglia) claimed a probable while Sergente Maggiore Amedeo Benati (79^a Squadriglia) claimed a damaged. Maresciallo Italo Bertinelli (79^a Squadriglia) in MM7860 was shot down in flames near the Gulf of Bomba and lost his life. The other pilots landed back between 10:50 and 11:15 after having used 1345 rounds of ammunition.
Eight MC.202s of the 17^o Gruppo (three from the 71^a Squadriglia and five of the 80^a Squadriglia) led by Capitano Clizio Nioi, took off at 10:30. The five MC.202s from the 80^a Squadriglia managed to engage twelve P-40s, claiming four shot down confirmed, one probable and one damaged. The confirmed victories went to Capitano Nioi, (who also claimed the probable), Maresciallo Bruno Castellani, Sergente Maggiore Mario Host and Sergente Maggiore Alvise Andrich. A sixth plane was claimed damaged by Tenente Talamini. The Italian pilots were back at 11:20 and they had expended 1690 rounds of ammunition.
With this victory Capitano Nioi qualified as an ace, as the first pilot of the Stormo to reach this status during the conflict.
Twelve Bostons of 12 SAAF Squadron were in action over Derna escorted by four Squadrons. 2 SAAF and 4 SAAF Squadrons, each with six Tomahawks formed the close cover, 94 Squadron acted as top cover (they had taken off between 10:30 and 10:45 and returned between 11:50 and 12:10); and finally eight Kittyhawks of 260 Squadron, which had taken off at 10:30, as an extra top cover. Additionally, twelve Kittyhawks of 450 Squadron had taken off at 10:40 to cover the returning bombers. They were divided in two formations, one at 19,000 feet and a second at 17,500 feet. They directed over Bu El Bergasi, Gazala then stationed over Menelao bay waiting for the bombers. Finally, ten Hurricane IIbs of 274 Squadron had taken off at 10:50 for a diversionary sweep over Gazala, two of them had to return early for engine problems.
4 SAAF Squadron recorded that the bombing attack, performed on an east-west course from the height of 14,000 feet was quite accurate. 45 well dispersed enemy aircraft were counted on the airfield. In particular in the north-eastern corner of Derna were more than 20 enemy aircraft dispersed and the bombs were seen to fall south of them.
During the attack, eight Bf 109s were seen to take off from the southwestern corner of Derna, apparently alerted by heliograph signals from Martuba. 2 SAAF Squadron also noted the take-off of enemy fighters from Martuba but the two South African units weren’t engaged.
Immediately after the bombing attack, 94 Squadron was engaged by three Bf 109 of I/JG27, and Pilot Officer G. L. Usher (AK741) claimed a destroyed Bf 109E and this was possibly the Messerschmitt of Leutnant Julius Wildau of 3./JG 27 (Bf 109F-4 trop WNr. 8411), who crashed to death 2km west of Casa Cantoniera on Via Balbia. The 94 Squadron didn’t suffer any loss.
Subsequently, over Menelao bay, five miles north-west of Bomba, 260 Squadron claimed two Bf 109s (one by Flight Sergeant Thomas Hindle and one shared between Squadron Leader Osgood Hanbury (AK867) and Sergeant J. V. Carlisle). Then Flight Sergeant Hindle engaged a MC.202, 12 miles south south-west of Gazala and claimed it probably shot down. The 6^o Gruppo was possibly involved in this combat together with some Bf 109s, with the loss of Maresciallo Bertinelli while the Germans lost Leutnant Rainer who was obliged to force-land. After this, close to Gazala, Hindle was attacked by two Macchi MC.202s (probably from the 6^o Gruppo); the first one, after the attack headed west while the second engaged in an inconclusive dogfight. Finally, over El Adem, Hindle was attacked by two Bf 109, being able to shot at one of them without claiming any damage.
The fighters of 260 Squadron landed at 12:15 without reporting any damage at all even if the ORB of 4 SAAF Squadron noted that a Kittyhawk of 260 Squadron was heavily shot up but succeeded in landing back at base.
In the Gazala area, 94 Squadron lost 19-year-old Pilot Officer Richard Warwick Martin Moon (RAF no. 106647) (Kitthawk Ia AK942), who failed to return and the fighter (AK769) of Sergeant Musker, who was wounded, while Sergeant Ray Matthews (AK735) was obliged to force-land near Gazala due to engine problems in a situation that matched that described by Tenente Cattaneo, a fact that suggest the presence of the 6^o Gruppo in the combat.
In the meantime, 450 Squadron discovered the bombers that were coming back to base and saw higher two Bf 109s that failed to intervene. South of Gazala the Squadron headed south towards a combat already ongoing (possibly the already described action involving 260 and 94 Squadrons) and two of its pilots engaged two MC.202s and one was claimed damaged by Sergeant Ian Nursey (AK606/OK-B).
Between El Adem and Tobruk, 450 Squadron’s CO, Squadron Leader Gordon Steege (AK717/V), discovered three MC.202s flying lower and led his unit to attack. Two of the Italian fighters were claimed damaged; one by Steege and one by Sergeant Donald McBurnie (AK865/K. All the fighters of 450 Squadron returned unscathed even if one of them had been forced to return early with engine problems.
Then it was the turn of the Hurricane IIbs from 274 Squadron, which engaged Bf 109s and MC.202s, claiming three probables by Pilot Officer R. H. Hunter (Bf 109), Sergeant H. Garwood (Bf 109) and Sergeant William Marsh (MC.202), but suffering the loss of the plane of Sergeant A. E. Howell, who was wounded but was saved.
The diary of Sergeant William Marsh who was flying Hurricane IIb BD820/D recorded only Macchis (possibly the formation of the 17^o Gruppo):

“1 Macchi 202 damage: engaged by 6+, one of which turned on to Sgt. Presse, my No. 1. Pukka dog-fight for ten minutes, 202 looping and rolling, got in snap shots at bottom of loops. Broke off combat when a second 202 appeared – my ammo finished too. Sgt. “Tiny” Howell shot down.”

During the night between 26 and 27 May, Rommel launched his new offensive. The Folgore-equipped units were in the forefront from the beginning. The 6^o and 17^o Gruppi escorted 14 MC.200s of the 13^o Gruppo strafing enemy vehicles along the Balbia road, east of Gazala. The 6^o Gruppo was up with ten fighters (three from the 79^a Squadriglia, three from the 81^a Squadriglia and four from the 88^a Squadriglia) led by Maggiore Marco Larcher, which had taken off at 06:10 and landed at 07:20. The 17^o Gruppo was up with eight planes (two from the 71^a Squadriglia, two from the 72^a Squadriglia and four from the 80^a Squadriglia), which had taken off at 06:15 and landed back at 07:15.
At 06:30, south of Gazala, at the height of 4500 m. and despite the morning haze that hampered visibility, the 6^o Gruppo was able to discover and engage around 15 fighters identified as P-40s and P-46s. The Italian pilots reported that their enemies were obliged to flee after having suffered the loss of four P-40s and the damaging of the rest of the formation. It was not possible to pursue them because the Macchis were at the limit of their endurance. Victories went to Maggiore Larcher, Capitano Dante Ocarso (88^a Squadriglia), Maresciallo Natalino Stabile (88^a Squadriglia), who also claimed two damaged P-40s and Sergente Maggiore Alfredo Bordin (88^a Squadriglia) with the use of 2730 rounds of ammunition.
17^o Gruppo instead, flying at 5000m., engaged 25 P-40s, and the 80^a Squadriglia claimed three shot down by Tenente Talamini (who also claimed three damaged), Sergente Maggiore Alvise Andrich (MM7892/80-2) and Sergente Maggiore Mario Host (MM7752) with the use of 550 rounds of ammunition. Both Andrich and Host landed with heavily damaged fighters including cannon hits on Host’s.
Major Daniel Wilhelm Human (AL186/DB-G), for the first time at the head of 2 SAAF Squadron led twelve Kittyhawks of his unit over Gazala. After taking off at 06:45 they engaged twelve enemy aircraft that were flying in small numbers. A general melee followed, where most of the pilots were able to shot at enemy fighters. Three pilots were forced to fight their way against the Macchis up to El Adem.
Major Human claimed a Bf 109 (first of his five victories), Lieutenant Gordon Derek Reynolds (AK747/L) claimed a Macchi MC.202 probable while a Bf 109 was claimed damaged by Lieutenant ‘Doug’ Allen (AK642/T). Lieutenant David Paddon (AL138/R) and Lieutenant Norman Soames Ford (AK904/A) failed to return (both KIA), while Lieutenant Allen had to land at El Adem short of fuel.
In the same area there were also four Bf 109 escorting a reconnaissance aircraft and Oberfeldwebel Erich Krenzke of 6./JG 27 claimed a P-40 at 06:55, 20km. south of Gazala, but considering the circumstances and the development of the combat, a confused dogfight typical of the engagements that involved the Italian units it seems improbable that 2 SAAF Squadron was engaged by the Messerschmitts, so it seems more likely that the South Africans fought only against 1^o Stormo.
Considering the number of enemy fighters estimated by the pilots of the 17^o Gruppo it is not possible to discard the possibility that another Commonwealth unit was present.
It is also noticeable that despite the intensity of the combat the South Africans didn’t record any additional damage.
One of the MC.200s (MM5253) from the 13^o Gruppo was damaged by ground-fire and force-landed at Tmimi with Sergente Cassio Poggi (78^a Squadriglia) slightly wounded.

At 22:30 on 31 May 1942, Tenente Talamini scrambled in a CR.42 (borrowed from the 3^o Gruppo), engaged a Wellington and claimed it shot down with the use of 350 rounds of ammunition. The aircraft was seen crashing burning into the ground. Then he was able to discover three more enemy planes, but his guns jammed and he had to abort the mission.
Sergente Maggiore Host also scrambled and engaged enemy bombers; he shot at three different aircraft, claiming hits on one.
A second Wellington was claimed by a night-fighter Bf 110 flown by Oberleutnant Alfred Wehmeyer of 7./ZG 26 at 23:10.
13 Wellingtons from 148 Squadron, which had taken off from ALG 106 at 21:25 (most returned by 03:15), were in action over Derna. The bomber (Wellington II AD653/R) of Flying Officer W. Astell failed to return and Flying Officer Astell reported:

“...Whilst circuiting at about 0030 about 2 miles E. of L.G., height 3000’, our AC was attacked by a single-engined monoplane. Crew did not see EA approach, who attacked them from starboard quarter and below. First indication crew had was that they saw tracers going through starboard wing. As a result of this attack, hydraulics rear turret and rudder control were U/S and a fire started in the fuselage somewhere near the bed. Captain jettisoned the balance of bombs and turned for home whilst the navigator was busy extinguishing the fire. About two minutes later when heading for Martuba, EA attacked a second time from starboard quarter and below, starting a second fire in starboard wing and in the engine nacelle, hit the starboard airscrew and the rear gunner ammunition tank setting it on fire. Hit the WO who was operating beam guns in leg with cannon shell and hit second pilot in right arm. By this time AC was losing height rapidly and Captain ordered crew to bale out. WO and rear gunner baled out of escape hatch, second pilot owing to his wounded condition had to have his parachute put on by navigator and baled out through the door. Just before second pilot baled out, EA attacked on the port quarter and two cannon shells exploded on instrument panel and pitot head shot off making instruments US. The navigator let front gunner out of his turret who baled out immediately but it is not certain if AC had sufficient height for his parachute to open. By this time AC was well alight from navigator s cabin backwards and on starboard wing. It was too late for captain and navigator[P/O Dodds and F/O Astell] to bale out and AC crash landed at 00.45 about 1.5 miles S of Martuba L.G.s. …”

At 13:55 on 5 July 1942, Tenente Talamini and Sottotenente Roberto Sparapani (88^a Squadriglia) took off for a standing patrol over the airfield. They saw two smoke columns over the frontline and went towards them meeting a formation of ten P-40s that they attacked claiming five of them damaged near Mumin Busak. The Italian pilots came back at 14:50; Sparapani’s Macchi was damaged in the wing. It was probably a formation of eight Tomahawks of 4 SAAF Squadron that had taken off at 14:20 to indirectly cover Boston bombers. Over the target, they engaged at least three enemy planes and all the pilots could shoot at them without apparent results. The Squadron was back at 15:55.

On 10 July, the 9th Australian Division launched an attack in the northern sector of the El Alamein line. This was backed by all the Commonwealth Wings that targeted ground targets and the airfields of LG 20, LG 21 and LG 102, which resulted in heavy aerial fighting.
Five planes of 88^a Squadriglia were up for a free sweep over Italian troops in the El Alamein area (16:40-18:00). They saw in the distance two formations of P-40 fighter-bombers and manoeuvred as to cut the path of these planes 30 km off the coast over the sea then and even if they had reached the limit of their endurance they attacked. In the meantime, the Commonwealth fighters had jettisoned their bombs. Four P-40s were claimed shot down by Capitano Dante Ocarso, Sottotenente Alfredo Civetta, Maresciallo Natalino Stabile and Sergente Luigi Bartesaghi, plus one more probable claimed by Tenente Talamini and six damaged. Maresciallo Stabile landed with his MC.202 damaged by five rounds of ammunition.
Ten Kittyhawk Ias fighter-bombers of 450 RAAF Squadron had taken off at 18:07 (one had been obliged to return early) together with eight more of 112 Squadron and six of 250 Squadron, as escort, to attack LG 20 and LG 21. Once they reached the height of 11,000 feet over the sea they were attacked by a reportedly five Bf 109s and MC.202s (probably 88^a Squadriglia), followed by five more (possibly 10^o Gruppo). In the Commonwealth formation, a “general confusion” started and all the 450 Squadron Kittyhawks less three were obliged to jettison their bombs into the sea and the mission was aborted. While returning to base at 19:25, Sergeant A. W. J. Taylor (AL142) claimed to have damaged a Bf 109. In the meantime, the other Squadrons were clashing against the Axis fighter and Sergeant Desmond Cormack (ET783/G) and Pilot Officer Hopkinson (ET622/R) from 250 Squadron claimed a shared Bf 109E at 18:45. Kittyhawk Ia ET837 (actually borrowed from 3 RAAF Squadron) was shot down in flames into the sea at 18:45-19:00. Sergeant Roy Thomas Aston Wallis parachuted into the sea from where he was seen to wave one arm, sadly he was not seen again (KIA).

After the Italian surrender in September 1943, Talamini joined the A.N.R. (Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana) were he served in the 3^a Squadriglia.

On 28 March 1944, B-24s from the 15th AF attacked Maestre and Verona rail-yards and railroad and highway bridges at Fano and Cassano while B-17s attacked Verona rail-yards. They are escorted by P-47s from the 325 FG and P-38s from the 1st and 82nd FG.
At 11:35, the whole I^o Gruppo (53 MC.205s in two groups), led by Maggiore Adriano Visconti, scrambled from Campoformido to intercept B-17s and B-24s over the Polesine area.
The bombers are intercepted over valli di Comacchio and since the bombers were separated into two distinct formations, a direct north and one north-west, the Macchis attacked in two groups. The 1^a (Capitano Giuseppe Robetto), 2^a (Capitano Amedeo Guidi) and 3^a Squadriglie (Tenente Talamini) Squadriglie attacked the escorting P-38s while the Nucleo Comando (Visconti) attacked the bombers.
In the ensuing intercept Sergente Maggiore Mario Veronesi (12:15 at 7000-1000m in the Polesine area) and Sergente Maggiore Giuseppe Marconcini (12:20 at 5500m) each claimed a B-24. The fighters clashed violently with the escorting fighters and six P-38s were claimed by Tenente Talamini (12:20 at 5000m), Tenente Gianni Levrini (12:20 at 6000m), Tenente Giuseppe Rosati (12:18 at 7600m), Sottotenente Remo Lugari (12:15 at 9000m), Sottotenente Giovanni Sajeva (12:10 at 6000-200m) and Tenente Giovanni Pittini (12:20 at 3000m). A seventh P-38 was claimed by Francesco Tonello of the 2^a Squadriglia but this one was claimed at 10:30.
Two MC.205s were lost when Sergente Maggiore Alverino ‘Nino’ Capatti and Tenente Giovanni Pittini were shot down. Capatti was killed when his MC.205 crashed at Argenta, not far from Dogato (his birth-place) while Pattini managed to parachute with a severely wounded right foot. He landed in a ploughed field where managed to stop the bleeding before he was taken to Codigoro Hospital where his foot was amputated. Pittini took up flying again post-war.
During the battle at 8000 meters, Sajeva had some troubles with his Drager Auer oxygen delivering system, so he had to descend to 4000 meters. At 5000 meters, however he intercepted a P-38, which probably had some troubles and was heading south to return home. The P-38 didn’t take any evasive action and Sajeva hit the right engine, which caught fire. The American made an emergency landing in a field near Massalombarda over-watched by Sajeva, who then returned home. The Germans took prisoner the pilot, a 20-years-old Canadian (?) Lieutenant.
Two P-38s were in fact lost when 2nd Lieutenant James L. Rodolff (42-67067/MACR3642) and 2nd Lieutenant Kenneth E. Hartwig (42-67035/MACR3580) of 27th FS, 1st FG, were shot down and taken PoWs. A third P-38 was also lost during this mission but this was probably due to engine problems when 2nd Lieutenant David V. Weber (O-753766) of 97th FS, 82nd FG crashed into water and drowned when returning on one engine.
20 miles north-west of Ferrara between 09:30-14:20, one MC.202 was claimed by 1st Lieutenant Arthur Larkin of 96th FS, 82nd FG, one Bf 109 was claimed by Captain John S. Litchfield of 97th FS, 82nd FG and one Bf 109 was claimed as a damaged by Lieutenant Alphonse J. Mikes of the 97th FS.

Talamini went missing on 10 April 1944, while intercepting heavy bombers.

At the time of his death, Talamini was credited with 1 biplane victory and a total of 5.

Claims:

Kill no.	Date	Time	Number	Type	Result	Plane type	Serial no.	Locality	Unit
	1941
1	08/12/41	12:00-12:55	1	Hurricane (a)	Destroyed	MC.202		El Gazala-Tobruk	80a Squadriglia
	1942
	03/04/42	10:30-11:20	1	P-40 (b)	Damaged	MC.202		Derna	80a Squadriglia
2	27/05/42	06:15-07:15	1	P-40 (c)	Destroyed	MC.202		Ain el Gazala-Tobruk	80a Squadriglia
	27/05/42	06:15-07:15	1	P-40 (c)	Damaged	MC.202		Ain el Gazala-Tobruk	80a Squadriglia
	27/05/42	06:15-07:15	1	P-40 (c)	Damaged	MC.202		Ain el Gazala-Tobruk	80a Squadriglia
	27/05/42	06:15-07:15	1	P-40 (c)	Damaged	MC.202		Ain el Gazala-Tobruk	80a Squadriglia
3	31/05/42	22:30-	1	Wellington (d)	Destroyed	Fiat CR.42		Martuba	80a Squadriglia
	05/07/42	13:55-14:50	1/2	P-40 (e)	Shared damaged	MC.202		nr Mumin Busak	80a Squadriglia
	05/07/42	13:55-14:50	1/2	P-40 (e)	Shared damaged	MC.202		nr Mumin Busak	80a Squadriglia
	05/07/42	13:55-14:50	1/2	P-40 (e)	Shared damaged	MC.202		nr Mumin Busak	80a Squadriglia
	05/07/42	13:55-14:50	1/2	P-40 (e)	Shared damaged	MC.202		nr Mumin Busak	80a Squadriglia
	05/07/42	13:55-14:50	1/2	P-40 (e)	Shared damaged	MC.202		nr Mumin Busak	80a Squadriglia
	10/07/42	16:40-18:00	1	P-40 (f)	Probably destroyed	MC.202		at sea, off El Alamein	88a Squadriglia
	1944
	28/01/44	14:30	1/3	B-24	Shared destroyed	MC.205		Cesara-Pordenone	3a Squadriglia
5	28/03/44	12:20	1	P-38 (g)	Destroyed	MC.205		Valli di Comacchio	3a Squadriglia

Biplane victories: 1 destroyed.
TOTAL: 5 and 1 shared destroyed, 1 probably destroyed, 4 and 5 shared damaged.
(a) Possibly claimed in combat with Hurricanes from 80 and or 274 Squadron, which claimed 4 enemy fighters, 3 probables and 7 damaged while losing 4 aircraft. The 9 and 17^o Gruppi claimed 10 fighters, 2 probables and 10 damaged while losing 1 MC.202 and getting two damaged.
(b) Claimed in combat with P-40s from 2 SAAF, 4 SAAF, 94, 260 and 450 Squadrons and Hurricanes from 274 Squadron. The Allied fighters claimed 3 destroyed, 4 probables, 3 damaged for the loss of 3 aircraft (1 pilot KIA) and three damaged. Axis fighter from the 1^o Stormo and JG 27 claimed 9 destroyed, 2 probables and 2 damaged for the loss of 3 fighters (2 pilots KIA).
(c) Probably claimed in combat with P-40s from 2 SAAF Squadron, which claimed 1 destroyed, 1 probable and 1 damaged while losing two aircraft. 6^o and 17^o Gruppi claimed 7 and many damaged while two MC.202s were damaged.
(d) Probably claimed in combat with Wellingtons from 148 Squadron, which lost 1 aircraft and 1 damaged against Axis claims for 2 shot down.
(e) Probably claimed in combat with P-40s from 4 SAAF Squadron, which didn’t suffer any losses.
(f) Probably claimed in combat with Kittyhawks Ias from 450 RAAF, 112 and 250 Squadrons, which claimed 2 damaged Bf 109s while losing 1 Kittyhawk (pilot KIA). The 88^o Squadriglia claimed 4 P-40s, 1 probable and 6 damaged without losses.
(g) Claimed in combat with P-38s from 1st and 82nd FG, which claimed two enemy aircraft destroyed and one damaged while losing two P-38s from 27th FS. I^o Gruppo claimed six P-38s while losing two MC.205s.

Sources:
A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940-1945: Volume One – Christopher Shores and Giovanni Massimello with Russell Guest, 2012 Grub Street, London, ISBN 978-1908117076
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
Ali d'Africa - Michele Palermo and Ludovico Slongo, 2009 IBN Editore, ISBN 88-7565-060-8
Annuario Ufficiale Delle Forze Armate Del Regno D’Italia Anno 1943. Part III Regia Aeronautica – 1943 Istituto Poligrafico Dello Stato, Roma
Assi Italiani Della Caccia 1936-1945 - Giovanni Massimello, 1999 Aerofan no. 69 apr.-giu. 1999, Giorgio Apostolo Editore, Milan
Eagles over Gazala: Air Battles in North Africa May-June 1942 – Michele Palermo, IBN Editore, ISBN (10) 88-7565-168-X
Elenco Nominativo dei Militari dell' A. M. Decorati al V. M. Durante it Periodo 1929 - 1945 2 Volume M - Z
La Battaglie Aeree In Africa Settentrionale: Novembre-Dicembre 1941 – Michele Palermo, IBN, ISBN 88-7565-102-7
Luftwaffe Claims Lists - Tony Wood
Royal Air Force Bomber Losses in the Middle East and Mediterranean, Volume 1: 1939-1942 - David Gunby and Pelham Temple, 2006 Midland Publishing, ISBN 1-85780-234-9
Additional information kindly provided by Ferdinando D’Amico, Michele Palermo and Ludovico Slongo.