Italian Forces

The Squadron lost in the desert-1

IMC Archives

British servicemen surrounding an Italian Ju 87B Stuka (“Picchiatello” for the Italians) overturned after an emergency landing in the desert out of fuel. The plane is one of eleven Stukas of the Regia Aeronautica’s 209th Squadriglia lost in the desert on 14 September 1941, landed in the enemies lines and seized by the British Forces: an amount of mistaken mission’s planning, misunderstanding, misleading orders… At 6:30 a.m. 13 Ju 87B of this Squadriglia (26 men: pilots and gunners) took off from Gars El Arid for a dive attack against a tank unit in Bir Habata area, 57 km SE of Sollum, Libya, in collaboration with German Stukas. But for a series of hitch the German planes took oneself prior of the Italians… in the hurry of make ready the “Picchiatelli” for the mission the auxiliary fuel tanks was never installed… Soon after the takeoff an aircraft came back early for engine troubles. Of the remaining Ju 87, only the “Picchiatello” of the Squadriglia’s leader (capt. Romanese pilot and airman Boerci gunner) returned safely to base at 8:35. The other aircraft, lost the route and now short of fuel, without possibility of return to base, was forced to land inside the British lines. All the planes, some overturned, was captured by the British and the crew, except two pilots and two gunners saved oneself in eventful manners, was seized POW. One of the “Picchiatelli”, the aircraft military registration MM5763, crew sergeant Bartolomasi, pilot, and aircraftman Penzo, gunner, was seized intact. This incident, eleven Stuka intact in British hands, rendered furious the German which asked for the immediate and exemplary punishment of the guilty. Victor Sierra