WIX Archives
Re: Reggiane Re 2001, Re 2005
Posted by Gregory on Sun Dec 15, 2002 09:05:51 AM
In reply top Re: Reggiane Re 2001, Re 2005 posted by Lowell Thompson on Sat Dec 14, 2002 10:50:48 PM
Lowell -
The Italian armistice of 8 Sept 1943 wrought havoc with Italian operational records, many of which were either burned (to prevent them falling into enemy hands), lost or simply never written. For all practical purposes, comprehensive ops records end on 31 March 1943; after that date, things must be patched together from a variety of fragmentary sources. A very tedious task which few if any usually attempt.
Anyway, based on a quick check of the published record, in the period mentioned
a. Reggiane 2001s were stationed at Metato, near Pisa, quite close to the position decribed by your father;
b. At the time, there was a single RE 2005 unit, based at naples, with all aircraft grounded due to the structural failures mentioned in the previous message;
c. there is no record of any combat on 2 Sept, but on 4 Sept some 160th Group Reggianes clashed with B-24s headed for Livorno, Lt Fissore claiming one;
d. there are no aircrew deaths recorded in the Reggiane units in this period.
"Ali d'Italia" is a series of monographs of Italian WW2 aircraft, with bilingual Italian/English text, published by La Bancarella Aeronautica (www.bancaero.it; also available from www.apostoloeditore.com). The RE 2001 was an early title; my RE 2005 is among the more recent ones.
Gregory