Castelveltrano 4 Jan 42

[Andreas]

According to the British OH, Blenheims from Malta carried out a raid on Castel Veltrano in Sicily on 4 January 42, leaving the airfield where German transport planes were parked "wingtip to wingtip" "a smoking ruin".

Can someone confirm this, and maybe add further information on the losses suffered during the raid? Also, which unit would the Blenheims have belonged to?

Many thanks in advance!

All the best

Andreas

[Jon G.]

I have a book to recommend to you. Heck, I have two

Anyways, according to the latter, the attack on Castelveltrano was staged by eleven Blenheims of 18 and 107 Squadrons under favourable circumstances - namely that the Sicilian airfield was heavily watterlogged. No Blenheims were lost in the initial raid, but one machine had to abandon due to engine trouble.

The 18 and 107 Squadron crews claimed 30 a/c destroyed, and a quick follow-up raid was staged by three Wellingtons of 104 Squadron carrying 4000 lb. cookies. Two more follow-up raids by the 104 Squadron Wellingtons resulted in one Wellington being lost.

Still according to Shores, Cull & Malizia, actual Axis losses were six S.82s (one of which was used by the Germans), four Z1007bis, a CR42 and a Ju52 were destroyed; in addition 42 more aircraft were damaged: 22 S.82s, 15 Z1007bis, 2 FN305s, 2 CR42s and an MC200.

[Andreas]

Thank you Jon for the info and the book recommendations.

That was an expensive night for the Axis air transport fleet.

All the best

Andreas

[Jon G.]

Anytime Andreas The two Malta books are well worth the investment.

According to Spitfire Year... p 34 a Junkers [88 I surmise] nightfighter of IV/NJG 2 claimed a twin engine a/c shot down that day, although that machine was later confirmed as a Blenheim. The Wellington lost was Z9036 of 104 Squadron. A Luftwaffe retaliation raid on Takali the same evening damaged seven Hurricanes. The storm which had waterlogged Sicily's airfields on the 4th hit Malta the next day. The same storm was used to mask the Italian convoy M.43 which reached Tripoli unmolested.

Are you sure this is the right sub-forum for this topic?

[Andreas]

Thanks again. I am moving this to the correct forum. I read the OH to mean German planes, which is why I started here.

All the best

Andreas

[Andreas]

Does anyone know which unit flew the Sm.82 that were destroyed and damaged in the raid?

All the best

Andreas