WW2 Operation Compass: Turn 1 Air Phase

10th December 1940

The first real action of the campaign involved British and Australian fighters intercepting an escorted Italian bomber formation.

2 squadrons of SM79 Sparviero bombers are escorted by fighters (left to right) 1 squadron each of Fiat Cr32 Chirri, Fiat Cr42 Falco and Breda Ba65.

They spot the British formations ahead of them at a higher altitude: 

Australian Gladiators on the left with Hurricane I's have yet to spot the Italians.

Continued -

A closer view of the Italians as their fighters prepare to intercept the British and Aussies.

It is not long before the allied fighters spot the Italians and immediately move to intercept them. The fast moving Hurricanes plough their way through the Italian formations:

33 Squadron of Hurricanes are fortunate to have 2 Junior Aces. The Squadron Leader and the Section Leader. In the foreground the Section Leader has pealed away to target the bombers. The slower moving Italian fighters desperately attempt to engage.

The Ba65's with a squadron of SM79 bombers gradually pull away from the main group hoping they will not get noticed!

Another view of the action at this stage of the game.

The Cr42's begin to mix it with the Gladiators. 

The lone Hurricane Ace pilot causes a serious fire on one of the SM79's who fail to extinguish the flames leading to the plane's demise. As the Ace gets on the tail of another SM79 he comes under very accurate fire from the bomber squadron's air gunners resulting in the pilot being wounded.

The Italian bombers manage to pull away leaving the fighters to see off the allied aircraft. Formations gradually break up leaving a swirl of aircraft fighting out their own battles.

2 x Cr42's manage to maintain a formation but it was not to last as one gets shot down.

In the centre 2 Gladiators turn tightly to support their mate top left.

Having turned, the Gladiators find themselves in a shooting position on the squadron of Ba65's successfully shooting one of them down.

What followed closely resembled a turkey-shoot. The 2 Ace Hurricane pilots in particular caused mayhem. The Squadron Leader had 4 kills and the Section Leader 2 before the latter pulled out having been wounded twice. 

The Italian pilots struggled to get on the tail of the Hurricanes consigning themselves to firing bursts during the brief moments they were in their gunsights. They had more success against the Gladiators downing one of them but a combination of inferior pilots and aircraft told. 

In total the Italians lost 7 fighters and 1 bomber with the allies losing 1 Gladiator. A comprehensive British and Australian victory leaving the Italians reeling. 

For the next battle in the campaign will be the land element, Selby Force engages the Italians at Matkila.