Operations
On the night of 24 October 1940, the CAI conducted its first raid, when eighteen BR.20s took off to attack Harwich and Felixstowe. Not all aircraft found their targets and three were lost in accidents or after becoming lost.
The next major operation of the CAI was on 29 October. This date is regarded by some historians as the last day of the Battle of Britain. In response to a raid on several northern Italian cities, fifteen BR.20s with a strong fighter escort bombed Ramsgate by day. The Italian bombers were sighted crossing Kent at a relatively low level. The bombers flew in formation, wing tip to wing tip. The open-cockpit, fixed-undercarriage fighter escorts accompanied them in a similar immaculate order. The Italian aircraft were painted pale green and bright blue. This was camouflage more suitable for a more exotic climate than that found in Britain in late October. Five Italian aircraft suffered damage due to flak. At least one of the bombers was seen at 16:40 hours in Deal, Kent that afternoon, some fourteen miles from Ramsgate and dropped three HE bombs, one just outside the Officers' Mess at the Royal Marines Depot, killing Second Lieutenant Nelson, four Marines, and one Private from the King's Shropshire Light Infantry. All but one were buried together in the Hamilton Road Cemetery, Deal, Kent.
The next few days saw several small raids.
On 11 November 1940, the day before the battle fleet of the Italian Royal Navy (Regia Marina Italia) was attacked at Taranto, the CAI saw its first major combat against the RAF. Ten bombers were escorted by forty-two CR.42s, the G.50s, and some German Messerschmitt Bf 109s assigned to them. The mission was aborted due to bad weather. However, Hurricanes from 257, 46, and 17 Squadrons intercepted the aircraft and destroyed three bombers and three fighters. In addition, four bombers eventually force landed, two fighters were destroyed on landing, and another eight fighters landed with damage. British losses were two fighters damaged. One of the Fiats was repaired by the British and subsequently evaluated. Of the Italian fighter aircraft, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill later wrote, "They might have found better employment defending the fleet at Taranto."
Fighter to fighter combat was no more successful for the CAI. On 23 November, the Italian biplanes were "bounced" by Spitfire Mk.IIs and two were lost with several damaged, in return for one Spitfire damaged.
Further bombing raids were carried out by the CAI, mainly on the Ipswich and Harwich areas.
Read more about this topic: Corpo Aereo Italiano
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