British Air Raid on Catania airfield, night 12/13 January 1941

[Tom from Cornwall]

Hi,

I found these details in WO169/924 - GS GHQ ME Intelligence Summaries from January 1941, can anyone provide evidence from Italian or German sources of the results of this raid?

No.240
(ii) Operations. AIR. Our action. Night 12/13 Jan. Our aircraft bombed CATANIA aerodrome. Three hangers were set on fire, one being demolished. The petrol dump was burnt and at least nine German bombers were destroyed. The heavy calibre A.A. fire was very accurate. One of our aircraft failed to return and another came down in the sea, the crew being rescued.

No.241
(ii) Operations. AIR. Our action. 15 Jan. Photographic reconnaissance of CATANIA aerodrome revealed about 100 aircraft on the aerodrome, of which 25 were German dive-bombers.

No.242
(ii) Operations. AIR. Our Action. 15 Jan.
Photographic reconnaissance of CATANIA aerodrome confirmed the damage done by our raid on night 12/13 Jan. Between 30 and 40 aircraft on the ground were either burnt out or seriously damaged. One hanger was completely demolished and another very badly damaged. Other hangers have also received direct hits. Considerable damage has been done to administrative buildings and there are many bomb craters on the aerodrome.

Regards

Tom

[Dili]

Page 52 VOL 2 L' Aeronautica Italiana nella 2GM Santori

Night 12 January 1941 Catania. 92 bombs dropped, of which 11 did not exploded, 35 outside field.

Damaged: 1 hangar and a specialist aircraft repair (SRAM)

Destroyed: S79, Ca 133, 2 Ju 52, He 111

Damaged: 2 S79, 11 Mc200, 3 S75, 1 Ju88, 10 He111

Night 15 January 1941 Catania 53 bombs dropped of which 35 outside field.

Damaged: aircraft place or hangar (avioremessa), comando building, guards building, auto place, depot or depots.

Destroyed: Ca 133, Ju 52, Ju 88, 2 He 111

Damaged: 6 Ju 88 and 13 vehicles

Causalities : 11 Germans dead, 4 Germans and 5 Italians injured.

The whole page have several attacks done to Catania in January but these were the most destructive.


For whole 1941 year the air attacks on Sicily airports(and floatplane bases) list:

81 air attacks of which 47 without damage

16/47 Italians aircrafts destroyed/damaged and 9/too uncertain German - a note says the German number might not be complete.

13/34 Italians dead/injured, 13/6 Germans.

[Tom from Cornwall]

Thanks for the quick response, an interesting comparison.

Regards

Tom

[Dili]

Yes, your quotes above don't seem to refer to the 15 January attack.

[Tom from Cornwall]

Hi,

I've looked on to the next Int Sum (No 243 of 17-18 Jan 41) and found this:

Appendix IX.21
SECRET
GSI/IV/5.
G.H.Q., M.E. INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY No. 243.
From 1200 hours 17.1.41 to 1200 hours
18.1.41

(a) Information sidelined in the margin is NOT to be reproduced.
(b) Information contained herein will on no account be reproduced for
circulation below Brigade or equivalent Headquarters.

A. ITALY.
1. METROPOLITAN.

(ii) Operations. AIR. Our Action. Night 15/16 Jan. Our aircraft again bombed CATANIA aerodrome. One hanger was hit, causing a violent explosion and starting a large fire. Another hanger received two hits, starting a fire, and a very large fire was started among administrative buildings. A large fire was started near other hangers, where several aircraft were seen burning. A number of explosions were caused among further aircraft dispersed along the boundary of the aerodrome. A.A. fire of all types, the heavy calibre being very accurate, and four ineffective searchlights.

Regards

Tom

[Dili]

Thanks Tom.

[Tom from Cornwall]

Hi Dili,

Another bombing update:

Appendix IX.26
SECRET
GSI/IV/5.
G.H.Q., M.E. INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY No. 247.
From 1200 hours 21.1.41 to 1200 hours
22.1.41

(a) Information sidelined in the margin is NOT to be reproduced.
(b) Information contained herein will on no account be reproduced for
circulation below Brigade or equivalent Headquarters.

A. ITALY.
1. METROPOLITAN.

(ii) Operations. Our Action. Night 19/20 Jan. Our aircraft attacked the railway station at BRINDISI, the bombs falling beyond the target and probably causing considerable damage in the town.
Night 20/21 Jan. 26,140 lbs of bombs were dropped on CATANIA aerodrome, starting fires among 7 aircraft and administrative buildings. Accurate A.A. fire, but all our aircraft returned safely.

regards

Tom

[Dili]

Hello Tom

Same source same page.

Night Bombardment of Aeroporto di Catania, day 20.

77 bombs dropped of which 26 outside camp. The first wave of attackers mistakenly dropped their bombs 2km far from airport due to decoy lights.
The other waves dropped their bombs in or near airport and were preceded by aircraft dropping illuminating flares.

Damaged: a barrack, Ca.133, S.75, S.83
Destroyed: Ca.133, 2 Mc.200, 2 vehicles.

[Dili]

I might just as well put all bombing up until the month's end.

Night JAN 22.
Night Bombardment of Aeroporto di Catania,. 29 bombs dropped all outside airport. No damage.
Night Bombardment of a Aquicella (Rail?) Station : 2 tanker cars were burned and 5 cars were "semi" destroyed.(1)
Night bombing of Comiso Airport: some airplanes drop illuminating flares but fail to find the airport, some bombs dropped 5km far away.
Night bombing of Augusta Airport: no damage, 1 wounded.

Night JAN 27
Night Bombardment of Aeroporto di Catania,. 77 bombs dropped , 59 outside. No damage.

(1) it seems to be a rail station but i don't know why the author included it since the list is only anti-air attacks. Maybe an explanation is that might be a rail station near an airport.