Daniele Gatti

Fantastic Ian! I'm writing a biography of an Italian pilot involved in that fight.. Then also have you the number of Skua who took part in the fighting in that day? You'd be so kind as to send me by mail a copy of the report of January 9, 1941? danielegatti@alice.it Obviously, paying due! This is the Diario Storico of Regia Aeronautica in that day.. "Blackburn Roc (SIC!)".. I'd be enormously grateful to you!

But were there still Roc on HMS Ark Royal in January 1941?

Ok guys, thanks! I have the Italian Diario Storico of Regia Aeronautica.. And this, indeed, it speaks of "Blackburn Roc"..Obviously wrong! It was certainly a Skua.. But I can not tell what aircraft it is.. If it was really only damaged or shot down! And for this, I thought of 800 Squadron's Skua on HMS Ark Royal.. It was the only aircraft carrier that participated with Skuas (9.1.1941)..

On 9 January 1941, Ark Royal (and other ships) launched aircraft to bomb an oil refinery at La Spezia, and to lay mines in the harbour. Both operations were successful..(Rossiter. Ark Royal. pp. 228–30).. And 800 Squadron of Fleet Air Arm were on HMS Ark Royal from January 1939 to April 1941.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ark_Royal_(91) Another Cant-Z-1007bis shot down by a 808 Squadron’s Fairey Fulmar of British aircraft carrier Ark Royal off Sardinian coast on 9 January 1941. Note the crew gathered outside waiting for relief. This plane was part of ten bomber’s formation took off from Sardinia for a raid against the British Royal Navy’s Force H and was intercepted by the 808 Squadrons Fulmar on patrol. Two Italian bombers was shot down, both by the Fulmar of Lieutenant Commander Rupert Claude Tillard (pilot) and Lieutenant Mark Somerville (observer) this latter nephew of James Somerville, head of Force H. Victor Sierra http://www.ww2incolor.com/italian-forces/CZ1007-ABB.html

Thanks Dave! Are you sure? From the sources that I've consulted, in January 1941, the Skuas of 800 Squadron were taken aboard the HMS Ark Royal. But apart from the aircraft carrier take-off these planes.. I am interested about the losses of Skuas on the Sardinia's sea on that day. And I think the only unit that they had was the 800 Squadron. Thanks a lot, Daniele.

Hi to all! I seek confirmation of a possible italian claim occurred in January 9, 1941 in Sardinia's sea. Some of you have the ORB's 800 Squadron of Fleet Air Arm? The loss would be a Blackburn Skua take off from HMS Ark Royal. P.s.: C. Shores does not report any loss on that day.. Thanks a lot, Daniele.

Thanks a lot Troy! Great link and beautiful model!

Ok Nick! Then.. Ok for the "sky band" on the fuselage + the black (night) on left lower wing (the plane were at Coltishall, December 1940).. For the wheels, I found this picture: And they seem the 4-spoke wheels.. Unfortunately there are not many pictures on Google.. Thanks a lot, Daniele.

Hi to all! I just bought the kit of Italeri's Hurricane in 1/48 scale. I wanted to ask you some confirmations before to start assembling the kit. The white band on the fuselage, was present? The right wheels, were the 4-spoke wheels? The spinner and propeller, were the Rotol type? The lower left wing was painted in black? The nose art with the boot, was on both sides? Thank you very much to all, Daniele.