RAF Bases WW2

[CTNana]

Hi

I have a photo of an uncle who has written what looks like "Tarantino, September 1943" on the back. He was definitely in the RAF and is wearing "tropical kit".

I have tried "googling", am obviously not in tune with the RAF website, have no idea what squadron he was in (or even if squadron have their own sites as Regiments do).

Don't know what to try next!

Can anybody give me a clue?

Cheers
CTNana

[Rich Payne]

Could it be Taranto ? It was a large Italian Naval base and the Allies landed there in September 1943. Presumably air bases would have followed. Troops in Southern Italy did often arrive in Khaki drill so the "tropical kit" would be possible there.

Foreign place names are quite often mis-spelled even in official documents.

[CTNana]

Thanks Rich
I actually discounted that (Taranto) because on my modern atlas the nearest airfield looks to be Bari. Suppose it could have been built over by now!!

Wasn't Bari where there was a dreadful accident with a german airplane striking a ship carrying mustard gas which in turn struck a ship full of ammunition?

So was it a two pronged attack with troops also coming northeastwards from Sicily?

CTNana

[Harry Ree]

Taranto was the Italian naval base which was raided by RN Swordfish in a torpedo operation against the Italian Fleet which was tied up in the base.It has always been said that the Japanese took notice of the operation in planning their attack on Pearl Harbour.

Regarding RAF airfields in the area about 5 miles to the south lies Taranto airfield at Pizzone and at about 10 miles to the south east lies Grottaglie.Between Taranto and Bari to the north east lies two airfields close together, San Basilso and 5 miles further is Gioia Del Colle.

The airfield known as Bari is about 5 miles north of the town on the Adriatic coast and is at Palese.

South east of Taranto on the Adriatic coast is the former RAF airfield of Brindisi which is on the outskirts of the town and was the main base for supplying resistance units in the Balkans and also as a base for industrial targets in the same theatre of operations.

Brindisi was also the base from where attempts were made to drop supplies to the Polish Home Army after the uprising in August 1944.

[Kyt]

Can you provide a scan of both sides?

[CTNana]

Thanks so much to you both. The photo did in fact say Taranto (my brothers failing sight!) September 1943.

So did we take Taranto in 1943? If so this could explain how my Dad met with his brothers in law (including this one in the RAF) and his own brother in the RN.

He has found another which says Zabratha 1943 which I cannot even find in the atlas. Will now go to try some alternative similar words!!!

Thanks again

CTNana

[CTNana]

Kyt
still chuckling!!!!
Scan no problem - reducing it to send?????

I'm afraid even though I spent the later part of my career on computer systems, this is still beyond me!!!
I'll try to get hold of my son and do the role reversal bit again!
Cheers
CTNana

[Kyt]

Zabratha is an alternative spelling for Sabratha in Libya (and there was an air base at Sorman). Sabratha is the site of famous ruins (about 20 odd miles from the base).

Could be sight seeing visit? Depends on when he was deployed to Italy.

[CTNana]

Thanks again!!
CTNana

[Peter Clare]

RAF Squadrons that operated out of Taranto/Pizzone.

224/225/226/227/263/271.

RAF Squadrons that operated out of Sorman.

6/260.