On 4/10/23 07:54, a425couple wrote:
On 4/10/23 01:28, DAN wrote:
a425couple wrote:
In 1941 my dad found himself in Basra Iraq as a signaller attached to
the King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) relieving RAF Habbaniya. Here >>>> occcured the last biplane air war in the west with RAF Gloucester
Gladiators defearing the Italian CR-42's
Do you know where those Italian CR-42's had flown from?
I'm just drawing a blank on where the Italians were
based and what they might have been trying to do.
They flew out of Mosul.
OK, so the Italians in 1941 had a military airbase
in northern Iraq, close to Turkey and Syria.
Why? What military actions were they trying to
support?
OK, now I have found and read:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Iraqi_War
selected:
Britain was incensed that Vichy had assisted Italy and Germany in their
attacks on the British in Iraq; attacks that would not have been
possible if it was not for the connivance of the Vichy French.[107] The Vichyite actions ensured Britain began preparing for an invasion of
Syria, which ultimately led to the Syria-Lebanon campaign of June–July.[106]
Italy
On 27 May, after being invited by Germany, 12 Italian Fiat CR.42s of the
155.a Squadriglia (renamed Squadriglia speciale Irak) of the Regia
Aeronautica Italiana (Royal Italian Air Force) arrived at Mosul to
operate under German command.[6] Also present were a Savoia-Marchetti
SM.79 and Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 acting as pathfinder aircraft, which
were stationed in Aleppo; personnel and equipment were brought in on
three Savoia-Marchetti SM.82s.[108] By 29 May, Italian aircraft were
reported in the skies over Baghdad.[109] Churchill claimed that the
Italian aircraft accomplished nothing,[110] but on 29 May near Khan
Nuqta the Italians intercepted a flight of Hawker Audaxes escorted by
Gloster Gladiators of No. 94 Squadron. In the resulting combat, two
Gladiators were lost for one CR.42 shot down by Wing Commander Wightman.
This was the final aerial battle of the Anglo-Iraqi War.[108] The SM.79
was destroyed on the ground in Aleppo by RAF bombers. Three CR.42s were
damaged and had to be abandoned during the Axis withdrawal from Iraq.
The remaining Italian aircraft were evacuated at the end of May and used
to defend Pantelleria.[111]
Plans were drawn up to supply troops but the German high command was
hesitant and required the permission of Turkey for passage. In the end
the Luftwaffe found conditions in Iraq intolerable, as spare parts were
not available and even the quality of aircraft fuel was far below the Luftwaffe's requirements. With each passing day fewer aircraft remained serviceable and ultimately, all Luftwaffe personnel were evacuated on
the last remaining Heinkel He 111.[citation needed]
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