"A costly Strike– No 107 Squadron 11 October 1941" Topic
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Kaoschallenged | 14 Oct 2013 11:20 p.m. PST |
A costly Strike– No 107 Squadron 11 October 1941 "No. 107 Squadron was one of two Bristol Blenheim Mk. IV equipped light bomber squadrons on Malta during the time of Operation CRUSADER. It carried out anti-shipping strikes throughout the central Mediterranean, as well as ground strafing of traffic on the coastal road in Libya, and bomb attacks on fixed installations. The squadron was commanded until his death in action by Wing Commander Harte, a South African, followed Flight Sergeant (later Air Marshal Sir) Ivor Broom, and then from December 1941 by W/Cdr Dunlevie, a Canadian. In January 1942 the squadron was disbanded and the remnants moved back to the UK, where they reformed and converted to Douglas Bostons. Operating light bombers from Malta was not a task which would have been appreciated by a life insurance underwriter. The picture below shows the daring of the pilots quite well, and repeatedly there is talk of ‘attack at mast height' in the ORB. But many of the crews paid for this with their lives." link |
Cardinal Hawkwood | 15 Oct 2013 1:53 a.m. PST |
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boggler | 15 Oct 2013 7:08 a.m. PST |
I've written a scenario for this for Bag the Hun 2 but haven't got round to playing it yet
link |
Kaoschallenged | 15 Oct 2013 11:19 a.m. PST |
Thanks CH.And thanks for the link boggler. Robert |
CampyF | 15 Oct 2013 1:51 p.m. PST |
Thanks for this. Good to see both sides of a battle presented. The Italian navy was treated as a joke by many historians. Although the upper leadership could be quite bad, and proper training often lacking, there can be no question of their courage and determination. |
Kaoschallenged | 16 Oct 2013 8:21 p.m. PST |
You are welcome CampyF. I have always had that view. Robert |
Kaoschallenged | 17 Oct 2013 11:06 p.m. PST |
"To Malta On return to RAF Bomber Command the squadron took up its low-level daylight raids again until August of that year, when the aircraft of the unit and their pilots -the air detachment of the squadron- were sent to Malta. From there anti-shipping missions were carried out around the Italian coast, Sicily and along the North African coast. However, after the Italian and German airforce strengthened the air defence of Sicily in 1941, the air detachment was withdrawn and disbanded at Luqa on 12 January 1942.[2] Losses among the squadron had been so heavy that at one time the squadron was commanded by a sergeant, I.G. Broom.[17] It was not the last time this man was in command of a RAF unit, he ended his career as Air Marshal Sir Ivor Broom.[18]" link Air Marshal Sir Ivor Broom (112392) link |
AndreasB | 27 Aug 2014 2:38 p.m. PST |
Last op from Luqa was 9-Jan-42, a single plane patrol. Schedule in 1942 for No.107 Squadron until 9 Jan was: 1 Jan – 1-plane patrol, and also 1 plane (plus 3 from No. 18 Squadron) on ground attacks in North Africa 2 Jan – 1 plane patrol, 1 plane to attack petrol tanker off Misurata, turned back, radio trouble, 4 planes to attack 3,000 ton merchant at Kerkhenna Banks, not found 3 Jan – 6 planes (plus 2 No. 18 Squadron) ground attacks North Africa 4 Jan – 4 planes (plus 6 from No. 18 Squadron) to Castel Vetrano (on the famous raid where the Wellies dropped 4,000lb Blockbusters) 6 Jan – 1 plane patrol 9 Jan – 1 plane patrol All the best Andreas |
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