Gentlemen,
From "Wikipedia" it said that ADRA regiment was used in raids on Allied airbases and railways in North Africa in 1943. In one mission the regiment destroyed 25 B-17 bombers. I never heard of that Italian special forces unit before. I don't know if it's true that 25 B-17s were destroyed by that unit. Unit was of Italian Air Force. Anymore information?
Sincerely,
Edward L. Hsiao
ADRA Regiment
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Edward L. Hsiao
- Member
- Posts: 2105
- Joined: 01 Aug 2003, 09:43
- Location: Flagstaff,Arizona
Re: ADRA Regiment
After the operation Torch, which led to the conquest of North Africa, the British and Americans started the air raids on southern Italy. The Regia Aeronautica, as they can not counter the Allied bombing with ordinary tools, because of the overwhelming air superiority of the Anglo-Americans, decided that the a possible solution could be the sabotage of allied airports by paratroopers and sappers.
On the night of June 13, 1943 began the enterprise. The operation command is given to the General of the Air Division of the Regia Aeronautica Umberto Cappa in collaboration with ten. col. pilot Klinger. In the airport of Rimini were ready 12 SM.82 "Marsupial" carrying 122 paratroopers, belonging to 10 patrols of Battaglione Arditi Distruttori Regia Aeronautica ( A.D.R.A.) and four patrols of the 10th Regiment of the Royal Army "arditi".
The aircraft departed from Rimini and reached some intermediate airports located along the Mediterranean coast from which the real mission would have started, more precisely the basis of Decimomannu in Sardinia, Gerbini in Sicily, Iraklion in Crete and Salon en Provence, in occupied France.
The goal was to destroy most of the aircraft (fighter / bombers) still on the ground in the North African airports occupied by the Allies, The operation targets were the airports, in Libya and Algeria, of Benina, Castel Benito, La Senia, Tarafui, Bilda, Oran, Biskra and El Jem.
The operation from the beginning did not have good fortune, as two SM.82 were destroyed before departure by an allied bombing. Moreover the launches were carried out without escort, at night, on the desert air over enemy bases. Many of these launches failed because of adverse weather conditions, resulting in injuries to many paratroopers and in loss of material.
What's more, most of the paratroopers were captured before completing the operation, by British patrols or more often by Arab Bedouins (there was a bounty of 100,000 francs on the head of pilots and Italian spies , captured in the territory of North Africa). In any case the British intelligence services were aware in advance of the mission plans, because of the details provided by the "Ultra "machine "of MI-5.
The failure, however, did not reveal full, because two Arditi escaped captivity and decided to complete the mission, despite adversity, hiding in the Libyan desert for almost a week between minefields and British patrols patrolling the area, surviving by eating even a camel, shot down due to running out of supplies. These airmen, Cargnel Franco and Vito Procida, a Venetian and a Sicilian, reached the Benina airport in the night between 18 and 19 June and here, evading surveillance, crawling in the dark, managed to place the charges of explosive on twelve bombers B-24 "Liberator", two transports Douglas C-47 and a P-38 "Lightning". At 3:30 the two airmen got out of the field and, two hours later, arranged in an elevated area waited for the explosions, causing serious damage and some casualties, in addition to the destruction of aircraft.
The following day, Cargnel and Procida, while trying to reah the point of collection, the secret track of Aisilian, in the desert of Cyrenaica, were captured by an Arab, who delivered them to the Allied authorities. The Regia Aeronautica organized two rescue missions, on 23 and 26 June, sending two SM.75 on the slopes of Aisilian and El Carruba, the predetermined meeting points, but nobody came.
Vito Franco and Procida Cargnel received the Silver Medal for the enterprise, and were repatriated to Italy following the armistice.
On the night of June 13, 1943 began the enterprise. The operation command is given to the General of the Air Division of the Regia Aeronautica Umberto Cappa in collaboration with ten. col. pilot Klinger. In the airport of Rimini were ready 12 SM.82 "Marsupial" carrying 122 paratroopers, belonging to 10 patrols of Battaglione Arditi Distruttori Regia Aeronautica ( A.D.R.A.) and four patrols of the 10th Regiment of the Royal Army "arditi".
The aircraft departed from Rimini and reached some intermediate airports located along the Mediterranean coast from which the real mission would have started, more precisely the basis of Decimomannu in Sardinia, Gerbini in Sicily, Iraklion in Crete and Salon en Provence, in occupied France.
The goal was to destroy most of the aircraft (fighter / bombers) still on the ground in the North African airports occupied by the Allies, The operation targets were the airports, in Libya and Algeria, of Benina, Castel Benito, La Senia, Tarafui, Bilda, Oran, Biskra and El Jem.
The operation from the beginning did not have good fortune, as two SM.82 were destroyed before departure by an allied bombing. Moreover the launches were carried out without escort, at night, on the desert air over enemy bases. Many of these launches failed because of adverse weather conditions, resulting in injuries to many paratroopers and in loss of material.
What's more, most of the paratroopers were captured before completing the operation, by British patrols or more often by Arab Bedouins (there was a bounty of 100,000 francs on the head of pilots and Italian spies , captured in the territory of North Africa). In any case the British intelligence services were aware in advance of the mission plans, because of the details provided by the "Ultra "machine "of MI-5.
The failure, however, did not reveal full, because two Arditi escaped captivity and decided to complete the mission, despite adversity, hiding in the Libyan desert for almost a week between minefields and British patrols patrolling the area, surviving by eating even a camel, shot down due to running out of supplies. These airmen, Cargnel Franco and Vito Procida, a Venetian and a Sicilian, reached the Benina airport in the night between 18 and 19 June and here, evading surveillance, crawling in the dark, managed to place the charges of explosive on twelve bombers B-24 "Liberator", two transports Douglas C-47 and a P-38 "Lightning". At 3:30 the two airmen got out of the field and, two hours later, arranged in an elevated area waited for the explosions, causing serious damage and some casualties, in addition to the destruction of aircraft.
The following day, Cargnel and Procida, while trying to reah the point of collection, the secret track of Aisilian, in the desert of Cyrenaica, were captured by an Arab, who delivered them to the Allied authorities. The Regia Aeronautica organized two rescue missions, on 23 and 26 June, sending two SM.75 on the slopes of Aisilian and El Carruba, the predetermined meeting points, but nobody came.
Vito Franco and Procida Cargnel received the Silver Medal for the enterprise, and were repatriated to Italy following the armistice.
Re: ADRA Regiment
Hello,
that on June. 13th, 1943 was the most ambitious raid of Italian Special Forces in North Africa.
Due to the damages to S82 mentioned by djhuty, only eight teams of ADRA and three of X Arditi were dropped.
Concerning the results, I have for sure 2 B24 of 98th BG USAAF ( maybe one other US plane in addition) and two RAF Wellington + 2 Hurricanes, beside a hangar damaged: another source gives eight RAF Wellingotn destroyed.
Have you got any info about the sources claiming 12 B-24, 2 C-47 and 1 P-38 and the relevant units ?
Best regards
Fabrizio
that on June. 13th, 1943 was the most ambitious raid of Italian Special Forces in North Africa.
Due to the damages to S82 mentioned by djhuty, only eight teams of ADRA and three of X Arditi were dropped.
Concerning the results, I have for sure 2 B24 of 98th BG USAAF ( maybe one other US plane in addition) and two RAF Wellington + 2 Hurricanes, beside a hangar damaged: another source gives eight RAF Wellingotn destroyed.
Have you got any info about the sources claiming 12 B-24, 2 C-47 and 1 P-38 and the relevant units ?
Best regards
Fabrizio
-
Edward L. Hsiao
- Member
- Posts: 2105
- Joined: 01 Aug 2003, 09:43
- Location: Flagstaff,Arizona
Re: ADRA Regiment
Gentlemen,
Thank you for your answers. I suspected that the Italian team's claims for destruction of Allied bombers on the ground were too high.
Sincerely,
Edward L. Hsiao
Thank you for your answers. I suspected that the Italian team's claims for destruction of Allied bombers on the ground were too high.
Sincerely,
Edward L. Hsiao