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IPMS ORANGE COUNTY Newsletter – December 2015

Volume 23 # 12 Southern California’s Premier Model Club

The President’s Column By Sean Fallesen

Closing out another year already. Where has the time gone?

I feel like I have been constantly busy this whole year, and

can’t quite figure out why. Definitely need to adjust my

perspective somehow.

Well, enough philosophizing on the broader issues of life.

It’s time for philosophizing on models and the realm of

turning concepts into miniature plastic reality.

A thread started a couple weeks back on a forum I frequent,

positing the question of “What are you surprised has not

been made as a plastic kit?” Interesting topic for discussion,

though it pretty quickly veered off track into personal wish

lists of obscure subjects. But even for the ideas that were

on-topic and reasonable, I was struck with how far we have

to stretch now to come up with such a list. Really blurring

the line between simply “it would be a good idea to make X”

and being actually surprised it hasn’t been done.

It’s really amazing just how much stuff has become

available, how many long-neglected planes, ships, and tanks

have been produced only in the last 15-20 years or so. I

place a lot of the credit for that on Trumpeter, who started

their meteoric rise by deliberately addressing the perennial

favorites on the “modelers’ most wanted” lists. Things like

the 1:72 Bear and 1:350 Hornet. And they just kept on

coming.

Nowadays, we’re seeing highly requested stuff, release after

release of ever more minor variations, and even subjects way

out of left field. (So many models, and so little time! Oh,

and money, too.) In the current Hobby Boss catalog, for example, there are several members of

the Danton-class in 1:350: the last French Pre-dreadnoughts; and there are several more 1930s

Soviet tanks on the slate. Just how much conscious demand is there for these things, really?

In This Issue Table of Contents Page DKA 4

News Flash 4

Financials 5

USA Membership 6

Editor’s Column 7

Membership Renewal Form 8

Club Meeting Locations 9

Contest Table 13

MOTY 15

Monthly Contest Results 16

Podcast with Shep Paine 17

All I Want for Christmas 18

Raid on Taranto Italy 22

Christmas of 1967 40

Mosquito Group Build 45

News Flash 47

Upcoming Events 48

IPMS ORANGE COUNTY Newsletter

December 2015

2

The President’s Column

(I find them interesting, myself – not that I would have ever thought to request them in a “what

would you like to see?” list, and not that I would want more than one example of that class for

my collection)

With how much stuff has been produced, we can actually refine that initial question of “What

are you surprised has not been made as a plastic kit?” into scales, and even as re-makes. That is

to say, in the old days just getting something made as a plastic kit at all, in whatever scale and

by whomever, might have been enough. But today we can be surprised something has not been

done in each popular scale! Just think, even the F2A Buffalo is available in 1:700, 1:350, 1:72,

1:48, and 1:32. Who would ever thought that would happen? Likewise we really can, in all

straight-faces sincerity, be surprised if a new-tooling has not been done for a subject last

covered by Monogram in the 1980s. But it’s our new reality in the modeling world now! And

with the likes of Airfix making state-of-the-art replacements for many of their classic subjects it

isn’t just the new brands replacing old, but some of the classic names re-asserting themselves

and not just resting on their laurels.

We really do have it pretty good. It really is a situation where anything is possible, and some

things can even be taken as probable. Inevitable? A bit of an overstatement, as there will

always be at least something that keeps getting overlooked – but those somethings keep getting

more and more obscure.

However, I think it will be a while still before we get to the point where I can honestly be

surprised that the Boeing B-9 hasn’t been done in 1:48 scale. A Mk. VIII tank in 1:35 or a USS

Nevada in 1:700, on the other hand, are approaching the realm of reasonable expectation, I

think…SF

Meeting Notice & Agenda

Date: December 18, 2015

Theme: The Bulge

Doors Open: 7:00 p.m.

Meeting: 7:30 to 10:00 p.m.

Loaction: La Quinta Inn &

Suites

3 Centerpointe Drive

La Palma, CA 90623

Right Off the 91 Fwy at Valley View

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/Flag_of_Orange_County,_California.svg


December 2015

3

2015 Chapter Officers

President Sean Fallesen

1st Vice President David Frederick

2nd Vice President David O’Barr

Treasurer Michael Bare

Secretary William Green

Contest Director Darnell Pocinich

Volunteers Chapter Contact Nat Richards

(949) 631-7142 [email protected]

Newsletter Editor Terry Huber (714) 544-8908

[email protected]

Webmaster Joe LoMusio [email protected]

Mail IPMS Orange County P.O. Box 913 Garden Grove, CA 92842

[email protected]

Club Website www.ipmsoc.org

National Website

www.ipmsusa.org

mailto:[email protected]



http://www.ipmsoc.org/

http://www.ipmsusa.org/

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=M9CFZLykfW12fM&tbnid=vNzqgAMKfF4oCM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.freecodesource.com/wallpapers/wallpaper/California-Republic-Flag/?f=category&ei=knLDUtS0C-OO2wXxqoDABw&bvm=bv.58187178,d.b2I&psig=AFQjCNEXXlgHfl0VJDi-Ho0xN8oeRfyFyA&ust=1388626933869506


December 2015

4

DKA Distressed Kit Auction

Next distressed kit Auction is this month, December. These are always great meetings when

people bid on old and new kits, half built stuff, surprising finds and generally a good time. If you

happen to have a kit or two that you know you would never build, or that one you started that you

thought was going to be your Grand Master entry and no longer interested in them? Don’t worry,

the raffle is totally anonymous so it’s a great way to discreetly get rid of your projects and know

that the new owner will already have a head start on theirs. Bring the water heater leaked kits

and good kits to the meeting for donation and drop off with Sir David Frederick or find Brian

Casteel. (Ed.)

NEWS FLASH – Foster Rash sends along a great link to some rare photographs of Fat Man and Little Boy during

the preparation stage and loading the A-bomb into Enola Gay. The photos are fascinating and I

learned a few things. I can report back the IPMS A-B-C my progress in recognizing good photo

references. Check it out these are really good. (Ed.)

Declassified photos - 'B-29' "Enola Gay"

Forest Arden was the chief flight mechanic of a B-29 stationed at Tinian Island. His aircraft was parked

nearby to the Enola Gay and he watched the loading procedure of the first Atomic Bomb. He said that

security was strictly enforced and no one was allowed to approach to within 100 yards! Few had any

inkling of what about to occur. Everyone was astounded at the sudden end of World War II.

This is an unbelievable set of photos - the REAL thing - pix from Tinian Island as the B-29 "Enola Gay"

was being loaded. Notice the "Top Secret" stamp on some of the photos. In the last few pix notice the

CRUDE sheet metal work on the casing and fins of "Little Boy" - the bomb that was dropped on

Hiroshima.

http://www.alternatewars.com/Bomb_Loading/Bomb_Guide.htm

http://www.alternatewars.com/Bomb_Loading/Bomb_Guide.htm


December 2015

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From Our Treasurer Financial Statistics for the meeting in November 2015 Admission Distressed Kits $

Members 33 Monthly Raffle $ 217.00

Non-Members 4

Juniors 0 Total Income $ 521.00

Paid in Full 6 Total Expenses $ (383.57)

Guests 1 Profit / (Loss) $ 137.43

________________________

Total Attendance 44 $ in Checking $ 1,850.12

$ in Savings $ 8,012.01

Memberships / Renewals $ in PayPal $ 100.00

Regular 2 Total in Bank $ 9,962.13

Youth 0

Full Year 1


December 2015

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IPMS / USA Membership

Membership is of great importance, both here at the level of the local chapter as well as the

National level. As a long time member I can highly recommend the expenditure of the additional

dollars to become a member of the national organization.

With membership come six copies of the IPMS Journal publication which is better than ever, and

the right to participate at the IPMS National Convention contest. The subscription to the Journal

alone is worth the cost of joining.

A copy of the membership application is below or available on our website, or at the IPMS / USA

website address, www.ipmsusa.org. Complete the form and return it to the address listed at the

bottom of the form along with your method of payment.

http://www.ipmsusa.org/

http://www.ipmsoc.org/ipmsoc.htm


December 2015

7

Winter Edition By Terry Huber – Newsletter Editor

This is the best time of the year to build models. In this non-air-conditioned home I live in, the

winter months are prime. Around here, no one gets up before 9:00 a.m. on the weekends. I have

already been up by 5:00 a.m. to feed the cats so there’s plenty of time to build. The outside temps

are around 65-70F so airbrushing in the garage is no problem either. I already told you about

airbrushing in 90 degree weather, so now my work should be better right? Well I have been told

that I might want to consider returning to the IPMS A-B-C or adult builder’s course for a

refresher. Just when you think you are getting better somebody busts your chops.

All that aside what is inside the Newsletter? Let’s start with an interesting Podcast from Dennis

Nowicki in an interview with Master Modeler Shep Paine. Next up a story on GM’s Firebird, no

not that one, this first one before the Smokey and the Bandit model. Nat Richards shares with us

a story on the Raid at Taranto Italy and Rick Beman presents Christmas in 1967 with a fascinating

read. Then Mike Budzeika reports on a Tamiya 1/32 scale Mosquito group build and incoming

President Sir David Frederick proclaims victory with his campaign comments. Sit back and light

the fire, grab your favorite beverage, and relax to the Newsletter. TH

A TALE FROM THE KELLER SHOW……. This seems to come around every Christmas. Poor Oliver is at the Kit Collectors show asking Sir David Frederick about the cost of a 1/35 scale Trumpeter SA-2 missile kit. He only has $15.

I believe the young lad later returned with the same kit to the Noble ones table to proclaim that he acquired it from another market vendor for $12, whereas our Gentlemen Frederick replied ”Get out of here kid, your botherin me!” as the boy skipped away. If you talk with Sir David, he has a different story to

tell about the encounter, however somewhat similar. (Ed.)


December 2015

8

Membership Renewal Form

Below is the new and improved Membership and Renewal form. Print this page, fill

it out and bring it to the meeting. It is also available on-line at www.ipmsoc.org.



December 2015

9

Model Club Meetings in the SoCal Area

~Changes to current Clubs~ Pasadena Modeling Society Currently moved from the old location

And will be meeting in the Pasadena area soon.

Check out ValleyCon this year at Peterson Automotive Museum

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ IPMS Inland Empire New meeting place for the IPMS Inland Empire

Meets on the 1st Monday of each month

The Puente Hills Baptist Church

363 E. Roland St., Covina CA

Doors open at 6:30 pm and go till about 9:00 pm

There is a $5 fee for the meeting

Pendleton AMPS New meeting place for the Pendleton AMPS

Meets on the 3rd Saturday of each month

The American Legion

La Mesa Post # 282

8118 University Ave.

La Mesa, Ca. 91944

Doors open at 11:00 a.m. to about whenever

[email protected]

951-805-2541

IPMS South Orange County The Insane Modeling Posse Meets on the 4th Saturday of each month

Norman P. Murray Center

24932 Veterans Way

Mission Viejo, Ca 92692

8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Contact Terry Huber [email protected]

This is a build session style meeting



http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=ipms antelope valley group logos&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=uOgAfddXV145nM&tbnid=2Niow0TlEusnFM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.palmdalehobbies.com/links.html&ei=odozUvjvFMbF2AWv9oDwCA&bvm=bv.52164340,d.b2I&psig=AFQjCNET0ySOIvq879lDBNPmMS_nnD6YKQ&ust=1379216403806602


December 2015

10

Model Club Meetings in the SoCal Area SoCal Amps Armor Modeling Preservation Society Meets the 2nd Saturday of each month

Frye Sign Company

12818 Nutwood St. Garden Grove CA

4:00 p.m. to around 9:00 p.m.

Bring some chairs - No-fee meeting

(This is a great meeting to attend! Lots

of information and great modeling tips. Ed.)

Ship Modelers Association – SMA

Meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month

American Red Cross Building

1207 N. Lemon St. Fullerton, CA 92835

In Hillcrest Park 7:00 p.m.

IPMS Orange County

Meets the 3rd Friday of each month

La Quinta Inns & Suites

3 Centerpointe Dr.

La Palma, CA 90623

Doors open at 7:00 p.m. till 10:00 p.m.

Non-member fee $7

Sprue Cutters Model Club Brookhurst Hobbies Meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.

Brookhurst Hobbies

12188 Brookhurst Street

Garden Grove, CA 92840

Phone: (714) 636-3580

No charge to attend

[email protected]


http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRxqFQoTCLaZ-4DkmccCFYqggAodrUQAKQ&url=http://www.meetup.com/Brookhurst-Gamers/events/221562231/&ei=iB3GVba1CYrBggStiYHIAg&bvm=bv.99804247,d.eXY&psig=AFQjCNE0h85LxV1hlaBbvFjKoiFwWLZqAw&ust=1439133445690691


December 2015

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Model Club Meetings in the SoCal Area IPMS San Diego Model Car Club

Meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month

San Diego Auto Museum / Balboa Park

2080 Pan America Plaza

San Diego, CA

IPMS San Diego

Meets the last Friday of each month at

Girl Scouts San Diego

1231 Upas St. San Diego, CA

Use Richmond St. entrance to Upas

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. till 10:00 p.m.

Adult first visit is free and then $4.00

Secret Society of Model Builders

Meets the 2nd Sunday of each month at the

Game Empire

7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd

Suite 306 San Diego, CA

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. till about 9:00 p.m.

Adults are $5

Southern California Area Historical

Miniatures Society SCAHMS

Meets the 2nd Saturday of each month

La Quinta Inns & Suites

3 Centerpointe Dr.

La Palma, CA 90623

Meeting from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRxqFQoTCMz-kofnmccCFYahgAod07gAVA&url=http://sdmodelclub.com/&ei=uiDGVcy5GobDggTT8YKgBQ&bvm=bv.99804247,d.eXY&psig=AFQjCNGYFw5cAjTdo4pCsIHaqpIdKaoZfQ&ust=1439134229053752


December 2015

12

Model Club Meetings in the SoCal Area

Los Angeles Miniaturists Society

LAMS Meets the 1st Saturday of each month

Veterans of Foreign Wars building

1006 W. Magnolia Blvd.

Burbank, CA 91506

Meeting starts around 9:00 a.m. till 12:30

Frequent demonstrations. Nonmember $5

Temecula Valley Model Club Meets on the 2nd Saturday of each month

Kat Ceniceros Center

29995 Evans Road, Menifee, CA 92586

9:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon

Contact [email protected]

http://www.ipmsusa2016.com/


http://www.ipmsusa2016.com/


December 2015

13

IPMS OC Contest Table By Darnell Pocinich

It is hard to believe that December is here and a new year is just around the corner. It has been

a good year here behind the contest table as I have seen so many great models that represent the

wide range of interests shown by our club members. Thanks to you all for your support of our

club’s monthly contest. To all hands, a “well done”.

The December contest

theme is “The Bulge”. A

desperate German

offensive was launched in

December 1944 to push

back the Allied advances

after D-Day. One goal

was to seize the Belgian

town of Bastogne, a

strategic crossroads. A 40-

day long battle raged with

General Patton’s 4th

Armored Division

breaking through to the

101st Airborne Division at

Bastogne and turning the

tide.

This month’s theme offers a wide range of subjects to choose from -- Allied or German vehicles

of all types. There was an air component to the Battle of the Bulge as well although winter

weather was a limiting factor at times. A little known German air offensive was launched on

New Year’s 1945 to catch Allied fighters on the ground – code named Bodenplatte (Baseplate).

German aircraft attacked in Holland, Belgium and France. This contest theme also offers one a

chance to try your hand with winter scene weathering. Have at it and build a winner.

Now on to 2016. The January contest theme is “Look Inside”. Model any subject and highlight

its interior. Aircraft cockpits, auto, truck and other vehicle interiors, engine compartments of

all types. Best inside job wins the theme award. Have some fun with this one. DP


December 2015

14

Member and Modeler of the Year – MOTY This is probably a good time to remind everyone how the Member and Modeler of

The Year points can be accumulated. Below are the different categories and points assigned to

those activities if you are interested in participating.

~For Member of the Year~

Doing a Club presentation program 5 points

Contributing a Newsletter item of more than a half-page 3 points

Accepting a Nomination to serve as a Chapter Officer 3 points

Participating in IPMSOC Make & Take or Table Info event 3 points

Referring a person to become an IPMS National member 3 points

Referring a person to become a new member to IPMS OC 2 points

Supporting IPMS Club displays 2 points

OrangeCon Trophy packages sold (each) 2 points

Speaking about a Show & Tell Item 1 point

Contributing a Newsletter item of a half-page or less 1 point

Working at OrangeCon – 2 hour shift Min 1 point

Maximum amount during OrangeCon 5 points

~For Modeler of the Year~

Entering one or more models in the Monthly Contest 1 point

Placing in the Monthly Contest

Judges Choice award 5 points

Theme award 4 points

First Place 3 points

Second Place 2 points

Third Place 1 point

~Notice from your Contest Director ~

I plan to award bonus points for Member of The Year to members who enter and win model

contests outside our own monthly contest.

1 Bonus point plus the normal club contest point scheme for any outside contest winner

2 Bonus points for OrangeCon winners

3 Bonus points for IPMS Nationals winners

For example: 1st place win at outside contest=4 points, 1st place at OrangeCon=5 points,

1st place at Nationals=6 points


December 2015

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~Member of the Year Points 2015~ See website for all points.

These are up to November.

Mark Glidden 138

Brian Casteel 110

Joe LoMusio 106

Sean Fallesen 96

Terry Huber 64

These are the highest MOTY scores I have ever seen at IPMS OC. (Ed.)

~Modeler of the Year Points 2015~ See website for all points.

These are up to November.

Joe LoMusio 50

Rick Beman 46

Keith Mundt 25

Jim Teahan 19

Steve Taylor 17

Brian Casteel 17

NEWS FLASH – ORANGECON Theme The Theme for OrangeCon 2016 will be the 75th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Lots of subjects

possible here. Let’s try to overload this Theme this year. Enter at least two models per person.

Let’s get 600 models!



December 2015

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November Contest Entries and Results Theme “Not Ready for OrangeCon” November 20, 2015

Total number of Modelers: 19

Total number of entries: 27

Winner in Place – Division

Michael Bare 1/8 Commando Cody_______________2nd Master

Theme Award

Joe LoMusio 1/35 God’s Blessing

Owen Ryan 1/72 F-8E

Jim Fleming 1/72 Ki-48-Type 99

Jim Teahan 1/48 Saab Grippen__________________1st Advanced

Bob Bolton 1/24 Atlas Van Lines

1/24 Helter Skelter

Foster Rash 1/87 Tashima Market

David Frederick 1/32 Star Wars X-Wing

Davis O’Barr 1/144 Me-262 B1

Rick Beman 1/35 Sdkfz 10

1/35 Tiger I_______________________3rd Advanced

Mark Deliduka 1/72 M-65 Atomic Annie

1/72 BS-3 Anti-Tank Gun

1/72 Lav-25

1/72 T-90

1/700 USS Virginia

1/70 USS Caron

Brian Casteel 1/48 Ka-27 Helix__________________1st Masters

Judges Choice Award

Carlos Cisneros 1/35 Su-76M_____________________ 3rd Master

William Green 1/35 Sherman M4A3

Jake Holshuh 1/25 Humvee

1/72 F-16

Terry Huber 1/160 Denver & Rio Grande engine house

Jeff Hunter 1/144 Whiteknight Two spaceship

David Jorquez 1/35 JS-2 Tank____________________2nd Advanced

Chris Carl 1/350 Heroic Rescue in the Pacific


December 2015

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Podcast with Shep Paine

By Dennis Nowicki Check out this podcast from Dennis Nowicki interviewing Shep Paine a few years back. Dennis

also shares his Studium website as well. Of course Dennis is known for his scratch built hobby

shop diorama model in 1/12th scale which has won several awards, among other great subjects.

Click on the links below. (Ed.)

http://www.studium.com/interviews/paine.html

Or, this link will take you to his miniatures issue.

http://www.studium.com/mini/contents.html

http://www.studium.com/interviews/paine.html

http://www.studium.com/mini/contents.html


December 2015

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All I want for Christmas……. By Elizabeth Huber When we were little kids, we loved getting Christmas toys we could play with out in the

backyard dirt. For hours on end, we would build hills, roads, and bridges, racing our small

metal cars, and talking about the ones we liked best. Some were too precious to be played with

in the dirt, and sat on my brothers’ “trophy shelves” only to be admired. To our small minds,

the shape and feel of the small metal toys did not equate with “automotive design” – yet, we

instinctively knew the look and feel of what we considered to be “cool” vehicles. Getting a toy

GM Firebird III would have been an unimaginable.

The original GM Firebird cars, never to be seen in production, were a quartet of gas turbine

engine prototype automobiles that looked like fighter aircraft from the 50’s. In fact, the Firebird

I-III cars were designed by Harley J. Earl and built in the 1950’s. The Firebird III was built and

first exhibited at the 1959 Motorama Auto Show. It is still exhibited by GM at specialty shows.

Harley Earl was born in Hollywood when it was still ranchland.

Harley Earl was raised in the automotive design trade by his

coachbuilder father, J.W. Earl, who founded Earl Automotive

Works in 1908. Impressed with the young Harley’s designs and

clay modeling to develop forms when he saw them, Lawrence P.

Fisher (“Body by Fisher”) commissioned Earl to design the 1927

LaSalle, leading to the creation of General Motors’ Art and Color

Section, later renamed the Styling

Section. Earl was its first director,

and was later promoted to vice

president. Earl, who died in 1969, is

remembered for having originated

clay modeling of automotive

designs, the wraparound windshield,

the hardtop sedan, factory two-tone

paint, and tail-fins. One of Earl’s concept car designs, the Firebird I,

is reproduced in miniature and adorns the Harley J. Earl Trophy

given to the winner of the season-opening Daytona 500 NASCAR

race.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi854aOktnJAhUE2GMKHZx3CgEQjRwIBw&url=http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/02/daytona_500_notebook_help_flow.html&psig=AFQjCNFPQ4cL2AIjO5pRoD7jOmUwM6Yh1A&ust=1450106574884266


December 2015

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All I want for Christmas…….

The GM Firebird I with a Whirlfire Turbo Power gas turbine engine producing a (potential) top

speed of 200 mph, was a working research model – a “jet airplane on wheels.” The car’s body is

made of fiberglass and has short wings and a vertical tail fin. The driver (initially, only Emmett

Conklin, GM’s project lead, was allowed to drive it) sat in a single seat cockpit with a bubble

top canopy.

Photos by Karrmann

The Firebird II

deviated from the

initial tubular design

in that it has two

large front air intakes

and a higher/larger

bubble canopy (to

“accommodate the

family”).


December 2015

20


The two-seater Firebird III, the most interesting of the Firebird designs, has a titanium skin, a

double bubble canopy, seven wings and tail fins and is powered by a Whirlfire GT-305 turbine

engine. This version of the Firebird cars has the most advanced features, like special air drag

brakes to slow it from high speeds, an ultra-sonic key which signaled the doors to open (gull-

wing style), and a joystick positioned between the two seats to guide it.

The non-functional

Firebird was the IV

version built and

exhibited in the General

Motors Futurama

Exhibit at the 1964 New

York World’s Fair.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiC-o_eldnJAhVK2WMKHX_UBioQjRwIBw&url=http://www.ultraswank.net/event/1964-new-york-worlds-fair-futurama-ride/&psig=AFQjCNERTNyNqjY2oHQ59cggv1hN9xcqRA&ust=1450107456325386


December 2015

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The Firebird IV was designed for a future where cars were not driven independently, but were

automatically programmed via guidance system and traveled at greater rates of speed than those

typical on expressways of the time.

Gas turbine engines are obviously not used in cars made today. Gas turbine engines use

pressurized gas to spin the turbine. The engine produces its own pressurized gas by burning

propane, natural gas, and kerosene or jet fuel. The heat that comes from burning the fuel

expands air, and the high-speed rush of the hot air spins the turbine. Such engines are expensive

and have extremely high operating temperatures, and so are not efficient on a small scale.

The use of multiple fins and bubble canopy in the design immediately recall a time when the

U.S. was on the verge of space travel, and signaled not only a scientific step, but also a societal

step into the “future”. Although not connected to the original Firebirds, the “Firebird” name was

ultimately given to the “pony car” made under the Pontiac brand circa 1967. EH

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BwLBMS-OGCg/VBcvpri-VPI/AAAAAAAAI5w/XJueCZjZnnE/s1600/1958_FirebirdIII1.jpg


December 2015

22

75th Anniversary of the Raid on Taranto

By Nat Richards

The eleventh day of November is, today, recognized as Veteran’s Day, commemorating all that

have served in the American military. Prior to World War II November the 11th was recognized

as Armistice Day, commemorating the end of the First World War and those lost fighting the

“War to End All Wars”. Today in Britain and the Commonwealth Countries the 11th of

November is recognized as Remembrance Day with particular focus on the veterans and

casualties of the 20th century wars.

It is therefore ironic that few people other than Naval Historians recognize November the 11th as

Taranto Day. And the 11th of November 2015 proves to be the 75th anniversary of an air attack

on the Italian fleet, that not only changed the direction of the war in the Mediterranean, but that

attack carried out by only 21 biplanes, flown and crewed by 42 intrepid souls. I think it is

wholly fitting to call attention to the actions and bravery of these individuals and its

significance.

In June of 1940, Germany had overrun France. Emboldened by that Italy, under Benito

Mussolini, declared war on Britain as well. Though Italian contributions to the Battle of Britain

that would be fought through the summer and fall of 1940 were minimal, the threat to British

forces in the Mediterranean was very real. Pressed to the limit to defend the home Island,

Britain had few resources to apply to the war in the Med, yet it was necessary to continue to

support the British Army in Egypt and North Africa, supply the island of Malta and defend

Gibraltar. On the other hand, the Italian Royal Navy (Regina Marina) considered the

Mediterranean Sea as their own private lake, calling it “Mare Nostrum” or “Our Sea”. With a

fleet of six battleships along with cruisers and destroyers, they posed a real and legitimate threat

to British convoys the carried the vital supplies to Egypt and Malta.

The majority of the fleet was stationed at Taranto, located on the West Side of the heel of the

Italian “Boot”, just where the heel meets the instep. From there they were only a day’s high

speed run from the convoy routes and even closer to Malta. The naval base was protected by

hundreds of anti-aircraft guns, which would be reinforced by the anti-aircraft batteries of the

ships. There were also some 90 barrage balloons protecting the inner and outer fleet

anchorages, dock yards, naval arsenal and fuel storage tanks. Along with the massive defensive

firepower, the outer harbor at Taranto was very shallow and the inner harbor even more so.

This was consider the best defense against torpedo attack.


December 2015

23


It became imperative to the British side

to reduce or remove the threat of the

striking force based at Taranto.

The plan appeared simple: approach

the Italian coast, launch the bombers,

sink the battleships, retrieve the

aircraft, get back to base - but the

execution was deadly accurate and put

an end to the overweening surface

power of the battleship. Much planning

was involved, including decoy forces,

intelligence, false radio signals, hours

of reconnaissance flights and a concept

that had been dreamt up years before

by Admiral Sir Dudley Pound, then

commander of the British

Mediterranean Fleet.

Two carriers were intended to lend bombers for the raid: the Illustrious and Eagle. The attack

was scheduled for 21 October, the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, but it was delayed by

unforeseen problems: a mechanic short-circuited wires by mistake, causing a huge fire in the

hangar of Illustrious; and the Eagle had developed serious machinery problems and had to be

withdrawn. Five of Eagle’s Swordfish were transferred to Illustrious.

Given these events, the RAF seriously opposed the raid. They were afraid that a failure would

result in the reinforcement to the already heavy anti-aircraft defenses of the Italian harbor, thus

making it harder on high level bombing (which was basically useless against ships). But their

warnings were ignored and the raid went ahead to devastating effect.

The British bombers had only attacked a handful of warships, the hangars and oil depots, yet

damage to the harbor and even to the city looked much more extensive. Largely due to the anti-

aircraft fire (remember “What goes up, must come down”). Only two British aircraft were lost

with one of the pilots and his observer were captured while the other crew was killed.


December 2015

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What makes the Raid on Taranto seem even more impossible to believe, is the fact that the 21

strike aircraft were Fairey Swordfish! This awkward looking, biplane was of all metal

construction and mostly covered with fabric. It was armed with a single 18” torpedo, which

when carried reduced the 104 knot top speed down to a mere 90 knots. Normally crewed by a

pilot, observer and a gunner, but on the Taranto raid they would replace the gunner with a 67

gallon fuel tank. Because the water at Taranto was so shallow, the torpedoes had to be fitted

with special tail fins that would keep the “fish” from hitting the muddy bottom when dropped.

Lieutenant M.R. Maund, who flew Swordfish E4F as a part of the first strike describes the

reality for the men in the open cockpits of the venerable old Swordfish aircraft:

“Six thousand feet. God how cold it is here! The sort of cold that fills you until all else is

drowned, save perhaps fear and loneliness. Suspended between heaven and earth in a sort of no-

man’s land – to be sure, no man was ever meant to be here. Is it surprising that my knees are

knocking together?”

“We have now passed under a sheet of alto-stratus cloud which blankets the moon, allowing

only a few pools of silver where small gaps appear. And, begob, Williamson is going to climb

through it! As the rusty edge is reached I feel a tugging at my port wing, and find that Kemp has

edged me over into the slipstream of the leading sub-flight.”

“I fight with hard right stick to keep the wing

up, but the sub-flight has run into one of its

clawing moments, and quite suddenly the wing

and nose drop and we are falling out of the sky!

I let her have her head and see the shape of

another aircraft flash by close over-head.”

“Turning, I see formation lights ahead and

climb up after them, following them through

one of the rare holes in this cloud mass. There

are two aircraft sure enough, yet when I range

up alongside, the moon-glow shows up the

figure 5A — that is Olly. The others must be

ahead.”


December 2015

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“After an anxious few minutes some dim lights appear amongst the upper billows of the cloud,

and opening the throttle we lumber away from Olly after them. Poor old engine – she will get a

tanning this trip.”

“We are now at 1,000 feet over a neat residential quarter of the town where gardens in darkened

squares show at the back of houses marshaled by the neat plan of the streets that serve them.

Here is the main road that connects the district with the main town. We follow its line and, as I

open the throttle to elongate the glide, a Breda AA gun swings round from the shore, turning its

stream of red balls in our direction.”

“This is the beginning. Then another two guns farther north get our scent — white balls this

time — so we throttle back again and make for a black mass on the shore that looks like a

factory, where no balloons are likely to grow We must be at a hundred feet now and must soon

make our dash across that bloody water …”

“I open the throttle wide and head for the mouth of the Mar Piccolo, whose position … can be

judged by the lie of the land. Then it is as if all hell comes tumbling in on top of us … the fire

of one of the cruisers and the Mar Piccolo

Canal batteries …”

“We turn until the right hand battleship is

between the bars of the torpedo sight,

dropping down as we do so. The water is

close beneath our wheels, so close I am

wondering which is to happen first — the

torpedo going or our hitting the sea — then

we level out, and almost without thought the

button is pressed and a jerk tells me the ‘fish’

is gone”

“The torpedo aircraft then had to launch their

torpedoes from a steady height of 150 feet

while traveling at 90 knots in order to cope

with the relatively shallow water.


December 2015

26


This should have made them sitting ducks for the Anti-Aircraft guns of the Battleships and

Cruisers that they were attacking, and heavy casualties were anticipated. In fact only two

aircraft were shot down, the crew from one of them surviving as prisoners. Three battleships

were hit by torpedoes, one was sunk and the two others seriously damaged. “

The Attack

The first strike of 12 aircraft would be flown off in the dark of night at 20.30, and make their

attack at about 22.45. The second strike of 9 aircraft would be flown off one hour later at 21.30,

making their attack at about 23.45. The returning aircraft would be landed on 20 miles west of

Kabbo Point, Cephalonia.

Both attacks were to be carried out as follows:-

" The squadron of 12 aircraft to pass up the centre of the Gulf of Taranto and approach the

harbour from the southwest. The primary attack to be by six torpedo aircraft against the

battleships in the Mar Grande. This attack to be immediately preceded by two aircraft dropping

flares (and bombs) along the eastern side of the Mar Grande in order to illuminate the targets

and distract attention from the torpedo aircraft, and by four aircraft making a dive bomb attack

on the attractive target presented by the line of cruisers and destroyers in the Mar Piccolo. It

was expected that this attack would also distract attention from the torpedo attack."

This was the classic torpedo attack by aircraft on warships. First, the bombers would attack

from a high level then, while the attention of the defenses were directed upwards, the torpedo

bombers would attack from sea level.

Force X, Illustrious and two destroyers, detached at 18.00, arriving at the flying off point, 40

miles west of Cephalonia, some 180 miles SE of Taranto, at 20.30. Illustrious changed course

to ENE and increased speed to 28 knots and the first wave flew off.


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27


The First Strike

The Squadron Commander,

Lieutenant-Commander

Williamson had opted to split his

six torpedo bombers into two

sub-flights of three, approaching

from the west at low altitude to

delay detection. The first sub-

flight would approach over San

Pietro Island, fly through the

balloons and attack the

southernmost of the battleships,

while the second sub-flight

would simultaneously approach more to the north, fly around the balloons and attack the

northernmost battleships. By this method it was hoped to divide the defensive AA fire. It was

left to individual pilots to select their own target.

The first wave of twelve Swordfish flew off at 20.35 and formed up soon afterwards. At 21.15

when at a height of 4,500 feet the squadron entered the base of cumulus cloud and four aircraft

became separated. These were L4M (torpedo), L4L, L4H, E5Q (bombs) which then made their

way to the target independently. The squadron commander (Williamson) continued with the

remaining eight, arriving at Taranto at 22.50 to be greeted by heavy AA fire already in progress.

(The defenses had detected either the reconnaissance aircraft or one of the detached Swordfish

arriving early, or probably both.)

At 22.56 the flare droppers started to lay their flares along the eastern side of the harbour. The

torpedo bombers split into their sub-flights and started their attack simultaneously with the

illumination of the first flare. The first sub-flight of three, approaching over San Pietro Island

attacked the southernmost of the battleships, while the second sub-flight, approaching slightly

more to the north, attacked the northernmost. Meanwhile, the other four aircraft having lost

their leader, all made their attacks independently.


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All aircraft met with intense AA fire virtually the whole time. The torpedo bombers came under

almost continuous intense AA fire from both land, ships and moored positions. The fire from

ships followed the aircraft down to sea level, continuing until, in some cases, the Italians were

firing on their own ships. Much damage was done to the town of Taranto by AA fire in the

process.

Individual attacks

L4A (815 Sqn) Lt-Cdr. Williamson (Commander) and Lt. Scarlett. (Torpedo)

Arriving at 22.50, they flew over San Pietro Island at 4,000ft, making a slow decent, and flying

almost straight across the bay through the Tarantola balloon barrage before launching their

torpedo which passed between the destroyer Fulmine and the Lampo striking the Conte di

Cavour between the bridge and B turret. Turning away after the attack, they either dipped a

wing tip in the water, or were struck by fire from the Fulmine, or both. The result being they

crashed into the sea, survived, rescued and taken prisoner.

L4C (815 Sqn) Sub-Lt. Sparke and Sub-Lt. Neale (Torpedo)

They flew at 4,000ft over San Pietro Island and started to dive. The aircraft was down on the

water about half way across the Mar Grande and crossed the Tarantola breakwater. Unable to

identify the Littorio, the Cavour was seen and attacked at a range of 700 yards. The torpedo

missed its target.

L4R (815 Sqn) Sub-Lt. Macaulay and Sub-Lt. Wray (Torpedo)

They followed the same approach route taken by the previous aircraft, and again the target was

the Cavour which they attacked from 600 yards. The torpedo missed its target.

[Note: At 23:15, aboard the Doria, the crew witnessed two explosions which were mistaken for

bombs, but they were probably caused by the torpedoes of L4C and L4R exploding upon

contact with the bottom.]

L4K (815 Sqn) Lt. Kemp and Sub-Lt. Bailey (Torpedo)

They came in from the west, north of San Pietro Island at a height of 4,000ft. Passing north of

the cruisers and their balloons they flattened out on a line for the Littorio. The torpedo was

dropped at 23.18 from 1,000 yards and struck the ship on her starboard bow.


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L4M (815 Sqn) Lt. Swayne and Sub-Lt. Buscall (Torpedo)

Having become detached from the leader they waited off the harbour for 15 minutes for the

arrival of the other aircraft. When the first flare was seen, they came in at 1,000 feet over the

westerly breakwater. Flying easterly across the Mar Grande and losing height until reaching the

end of the Tarantola breakwater they made a sharp turn to port so as to approach the Littorio

from the east. The torpedo was dropped at about 22.15 from 400 yards and they continued

passing directly over the ship. The torpedo struck the Littorio abaft the funnels on the port

quarter.

E4F (813 Sqn) Lt. Maund and Sub-Lt. Bull (Torpedo)The last of the torpedo bombers came in

over Rondinella Point, north of the cruisers and launched its torpedo from 1,300 yards at the

Vittorio Veneto, but the torpedo exploded upon contact with the bottom.

L4P (815 Sqn) Lt. Kiggell and Lt. Janvrin (16 flares and 4x250lb bombs)

Their objective was to drop flares along the eastern shore and bomb any convenient target. They

came in at 7,000ft over San Vito at 22.58 flying NE and commenced dropping a line of eight

flares at half mile intervals from near the point where the Tarantola breakwater meets land.

After the flares had been dropped, they turned to starboard looking for a target, and made a dive

bombing attack on the most southerly oil storage depot. No results were observed.

L5B (819 Sqn) Lt. Lamb and Lt. Grieve(16 flares and 4x250lb bombs)

They were the stand by flare droppers. Coming in astern of L4P (Kiggell and Janvrin), they saw

that the first flares appeared to be illuminating satisfactorily, so no more flares were dropped.

They then bombed the same oil storage tanks, but again no results were observed.

E5A(824 Sqn) Capt. Patch and Lt. Goodwin ( 6x250lb bombs)

Their task was to bomb the line of cruisers and destroyers moored against the quay side on the

south of the Mar Piccolo. They came in at 8,500 feet over San Pietro Island at 23.06, crossed

the Mar Grande and the canal and to the middle of the western portion of the Mar Piccolo. Two

minutes later the target was identified and a dive bombing attack was made from 1,500 feet

obliquely across two cruisers from N.W. to S.E. at 23.15. The Libeccio was hit but the bombs

failed to explode.


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L4L (815 Sqn) Sub-Lt. Sarra; Sub-Lt. Bowker (6x250lb bombs)

Their initial objective was to attack the cruisers and destroyers in the Mar Piccolo. But coming

in at 8,000ft over the western mainland and diving to 1,500 feet over the Mar Piccolo, they were

unable to identify the target. Continuing along the southern shore of the Mar Piccolo they

attacked the seaplane base from 500ft.

They achieved several hits causing an

explosion and fire in a hangar.

L4H (815) Sub-Lt. Forde and Sub-Lt.

Mardel (6x250lb bombs)

They were separated from the leader and

arrived as the first flare was dropped and

came in east of Cape San Vito. On

reaching te Mar Piccolo they turned, and

flying at 1,500ft from NE to SW,

delivered their attack on two cruisers. The

first bomb hit the water short of the target but the remainder hit the cruiser although no

immediate results were observed. Intense A.A. fire from the cruisers moored in the Mar Piccolo

was met throughout the dive. They were uncertain whether their bombs had released and circled

the western basin of the Mar Piccolo and repeated the attack.

E5Q (824) Lt. Murray and Sub-Lt. Paine (6x250lb bombs)

They came in east of Cape San Vito when the attack was already in progress and the flares were

dropping. They continued until the eastern end of the Mar Piccolo was reached and turning to

port flew along the southern shore. Their objective was the cruisers and destroyers, which they

attacked from 3,000ft, the bombs dropping in a line running from E to W. commencing by the

most eastern jetty and extending across four of the destroyers to the most westerly cruiser in the

line, hitting the Libeccio but the bomb failed to detonate.With their individual tasks completed,

the last aircraft of the first strike left Taranto 23.35, landing on, in the dark, Illustrious 01.55.


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The Second Strike

The second wave of nine aircraft started flying off at 21.28 and 8 aircraft were off by 21.34.

L5F (Clifford, Going) was accidentally damaged before takeoff in a collision with L5Q and

had to be struck down to the hangar for repairs to the wing fabric. It was eventually flown off at

21.58, trailing the last aircraft by 24 minutes.

At 22.05, L5Q (Morford, Green), lost its external overload tank when it became detached,

forcing the aircraft to return to the carrier which fired on it as it was not expected, but landed

safely. That left only eight Swordfish to take part in the second strike.

At 22.50 the Squadron commenced to climb and at 23.15 when 60 miles away sighted flares

and antiaircraft fire from Taranto, which continued until at 23.50. When the northwest shore of

the Gulf of Taranto was sighted, the Squadron turned to the north-east at 8,000ft and detached

the flare droppers at 23.55.

Lieutenant-Commander Hale’s plan was for the all his torpedo bombers to approach from the

NW at high altitude. They were to pass north of Rondinella Point and, skirting the cruisers to

the north, fly over the balloons, turn southwards and dive quickly to sea level and attack the

battleships from the north, as this gave them overlapping targets and a greater chance of hitting

something.

Individual attacks

L5A (819) Lt-Cdr. Hale (Commander) and Lt. Carline (Torpedo)

They came in a mile north of Rondinella Point at 5,000ft, glided down over the commercial

basin, and steering directly for the Littorio, dropped their torpedo from about 700 yards. [See

note after L5K.]

E4H (813) Lt. Bayly and Lt. Slaughter (Torpedo)

As they approached, they were hit by intense AA fire and crashed into the harbor killing both

crew. The body of Sub Lieutenant Bayly was found and buried with full military honors, while

the body of Lieutenant Slaughter was never found. They were the only aircrew fatalities during

the course of the entire raid.


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L5H(819) Lt. Lee and Sub-Lt. Jones (Torpedo)

They came in astern of L5A (Hale and Carline) over Rondinella Point, gliding down to a point

south of the canal, dropping their torpedo from about 800 yards at the Duilio, striking the ship

on the starboard side.

L5K(819) Lt. Torrens-Spence and Lt. Sutton (Torpedo)Following the Flight Leader L5A (Hale

and Carline), they came in over Rondinella Point, and glided down to a point south of the canal.

Their torpedo was aimed at the Littorio but failed to release at first attempt, so they held their

course, tried again and finally released the torpedo manually from 700 yards.

[Note: What is certain is that a torpedo from either L5A or L5K struck the Littorio on its

starboard side. But what is not known is who to credit with the hit, as they both launched their

torpedoes from similar positions at about the same time.]

E5H (824) Lt. Wellham and Lt. Humphreys (Torpedo)

They came in over Rondinella Point, over Mar Piccolo, and the Town of Taranto, and turned to

starboard to the centre of the Mar Grande. Diving to attack, the aircraft was hit by AA fire

causing severe aileron damage, putting the aircraft temporarily out of control. Regaining partial

control, the torpedo was dropped from about 500 yards aimed at the Vittorio Veneto which

missed. After which they received further wing damage from AA fire and, heavily damaged,

limped back to Illustrious.

L5B (819) Lt. Hamilton and Sub-Lt. Weeks (16 flares and 4x250lb bombs)

They came in over Cape San Vito at 7,500 feet, and dived to 5,000 feet, dropping a line of flares

at intervals of 15 seconds to the eastward of the harbour. After dropping all flares successfully,

they delivered a dive bombing attack from 2,500ft on the oil storage depot, starting a small fire.

L4F(815) Lt. Skelton and Sub-Lt. Perkins (16 flares and 4x250lb bombs)

Their approach was similar to L5B (Hamilton and Weeks) except that the flares were dropped

south-east of the harbour, from between 6,500 feet and 5,000 feet. They then bombed the oil

storage depot without apparent success.


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L5F(819) Lt. Clifford and Lt. Going (6x250lb bombs)

Due to their flight deck collision with L5Q, they started 25 minutes late and arrived at Taranto

when the second attack was already in progress. They came in over the land about 5 miles east

of the harbour entrance, and steered straight over the dockyard to the far side of the Mar

Piccolo. Turning to port an attack was made from 2,500 feet along the line of cruisers and

destroyers from west to east. A stick of bombs was dropped across the cruisers Trento and

Miraglia. One bomb hit the Trento causing minor damage, but failing to explode.

L5Q (819) Lt. Morford and Sub-Lt. Green (6x250lb bombs)

They developed trouble with the auxiliary tank shortly after take-off and took no further part in

the operation.

Afterwards

When the last Swordfish had been landed on at 02.50, Force X turned southwards and rejoined

the Fleet at 07.30. Later that day, the three undamaged battleships Giulio Cesare, Vittorio

Veneto and Andrea Doria left Taranto and headed to Naples. Placing them an extra day or

more further away from Malta and the Convoys.

Rear-Admiral Lyster had considered a third strike the next day, but in the end decided against it.

His reasons are usually attributed to the deteriorating weather conditions, which were

undoubtedly a factor, but with the departure of the undamaged battleships there was little point.

Another factor seldom mentioned was the reluctance of the aircrew to repeat their harrowing

experience, especially now the defenses had been alerted to the type and method of attack. It is

often written that they were eager to go back and "finish the job", but this appears to be fiction.

The next day, when the aircrew was told they might have to return, one of the aircrew is reputed

to have said "They only asked the Light Brigade to do it once."

Lt. Wellham (E5H) later wrote "Usually, when an operation is projected there is enthusiasm

and a great deal of discussion, but this time it was sadly lacking. . . . . . . For the next few hours

we wandered desultorily round the ship waiting for a decision. In the end we were told the idea

had been cancelled as the weather report was completely unsuitable. I think that the

Meteorological Officer was the most popular officer in the ship!"


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Also, Lt. Cdr. Opie, an American observer aboard Illustrious, reported:

"Seldom will such a determined attack be made. I attended all the conferences of the pilots

before and after the attack and saw them personally before and after they made the attack. It is

doubtful in my mind whether, if the second attack had been carried out, the pilots could have

stood up under the strain and gone through AA fire again."

The Result

The battleships Littorio, Caio Duilio and Cavour

were either sunk or beached to prevent them

sinking. These three were half of the battleships

available to the Regina Marina. The heavy

cruiser Trento was hit by bombs which failed to

explode, damaging a fuel tank. Two destroyers

(Libeccio and Pessagno) had also sustained

damage by unexploded bombs. Two fleet

auxiliaries were damaged with their sterns seen to

be under water. Of the forty two bombs dropped, a quarter failed to explode, which was later

attributed to faulty manufacture.

The seaplane hangars had been hit several times causing a fire and the loss of two seaplanes.

This was the base from which these aircraft conducted aerial reconnaissance. Minor damage

was also recorded near the docks, the oil fuel depot and the aqueduct.

The bombers had only attacked a handful of warships, the seaplane hangars and some of the oil

depots, yet damage to the harbor and even to the city looked much more extensive. That was

because many of the estimated 14,000 rounds of all calibres (two thirds of which were 3 inch or

greater) fired by shore anti-aircraft defenses, and unrecorded numbers by warship defenses, had

landed on the merchantmen and in the city, causing severe damage.

Conte di Cavour

The Cavour was the most seriously damaged. The torpedo had blown a hole of about 40 x 25

feet near the keel by the forward ammunition magazine. She was brought closer to shore, but

not close enough to avoid partial sinking. After she had settled to the bottom, water reached the

main deck submerging most of the hull.


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She was not re-floated until July 1941. She was then sent to Monfalcone, Trieste where two

years were necessary to fully repair the ship. When Italy surrendered, on 8 September 1943, she

was still there. She was taken over by the Germans to be once again sunk, this time by USAAF

heavy bombers.

Caio Duilio

The Duilio suffered damage from a single torpedo hit which caused a hole of about 35 x 24 feet

in the starboard quarter. The ship was run aground to prevent sinking. In January she was re-

floated and left Taranto for Genoa and entered dry dock. It took six months for her to return to

service.

Littorio

The Littorio was hit by three torpedoes, two to starboard, one under the second turret, and the

second one aft of the first turret. The third hit the ship to port near the rudder control

mechanism, causing the partial destruction of the primary rudder. Although not in danger of

sinking, it was decided to let her rest on the muddy bottom of a shallow section of the harbor.

Repair work was hampered by the presence of an unexploded torpedo underneath her keel.

(Which apparently had hit her but did not explode. It was found in the mud under the stern with

its striking cap impact damaged, and there was a dent in the Littorio’s starboard quarter.)

Repairs to her were given priority and were completed in only five months.

Reaction

The Italian Foreign Minister (and Mussolini’s son-in-law) Count Ciano wrote in his diary for 12

November 1940:

"A black day. The British without warning, have attacked the Italian Fleet at anchor in Taranto,

and have sunk the Dreadnought Cavour and seriously damaged the battleships Littorio and

Duilio. These ships will remain out of the fight for many months. I thought I would find the

Duce downhearted. Instead he took the blows quite well and does not, at this moment seemed to

have fully realized its gravity."

In Winston Churchill’s speech to the House of Commons 13 November 1940:

"As the result of a determined and highly successful attack, which reflects the greatest honour

on the Fleet Air Arm, only three Italian battleships now remain effective. This result, while it

affects decisively the balance of naval power in the Mediterranean, also carries with it

reactions upon the naval situation in every quarter of the globe."


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Report from Captain Boyd (Illustrious) 13th November 1940:

"Although the proper function of the Fleet Air Arm may perhaps be the operation of aircraft

against an enemy in open sea, it has been demonstrated before, and repeated in no uncertain

fashion by this success that the ability to strike unexpectedly is conferred by the Fleet Air Arm.

It is often felt that this arm which has had a long struggle with adverse opinions and its

unspectacular aircraft is underestimated in its power. It is hoped that this victory will be

considered a suitable reward to those whose work and faith in the Fleet Air Arm has made it

possible."

The German Naval Staff (Berlin) diarist:

"The English attack must be regarded as the greatest naval victory of the war. At a stroke, it has

changed the strategic situation at sea in the entire Mediterranean decisively in England’s favor.

Even more than before, the enemy will move throughout the Mediterranean, taking no account

of the Italian Fleet."

King George VI to Admiral Cunningham:

"The recent successful operations of the Fleet under your command have been a source of pride

and gratification to all at home. Please convey my warm congratulations to the Mediterranean

Fleet and, in particular, to Fleet Air Arm on their brilliant exploit against the Italian warships

at Taranto. "

Cunningham’s dispatch to the Admiralty 16 January 1941:

"There can be little doubt that the crippling of half the Italian Battlefleet is having, and will

continue to have, a marked effect on the course of the war. Without indulging in speculation as

to the political repercussions, it is already evident that this successful attack has greatly

increased our freedom of movement in the Mediterranean and has thus strengthened our

control over the central area of this sea. It has enabled two battleships to be released for

operations elsewhere, while the effect on the morale of the Italians must be considerable. As an example of "economy of force" it is probably unsurpassed."

Of the forty two pilots and observers, two were killed on the night of 11 November and a

further 17 would be lost in the coming months, some when Illustrious was heavily damaged by

German bombers and others on various operations.


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Taranto Air Crew who did not survive WW2

Killed on the Taranto Raid

Lieutenant G.W.L.A Bayly RN

Lieutenant H.J Slaughter RN

Killed on 10 January 1941 when Illustrious was bombed

Lieutenant E.W. Clifford, DSO, RN

Lieutenant N.M. Kemp, DSC, RN

Sub-Lieutenant A.F.X. Mardel-Ferriera, RNVR

Sub-Lieutenant E.A. Perkins RNVR

Lieutenant R.G. Skelton, RN

Sub-Lieutenant A.L.O. Wray, DSC, RNVR

Killed in later actions

Sub-Lieutenant R.A. Bailey, DSC, RN

Sub-Lieutenant J. Buscall, RNVR

Lieutenant G.A. Carline, DSC, RN

Lieutenant R.W.V. Hamilton, DSC, RN

Lieutenant P.N. Humphreys, GC, RN

Sub-Lieutenant A.S.D. Macaulay, DSC, RN

Lieutenant M.R. Maund, RN

Sub-Lieutenant P.D.J. Sparke, DSO, RN

Sub-Lieutenant J.R.B. Weekes, DSC, RN

Postscript

Much has been made of the Japanese Naval Attache’s (Lt-Cdr. Takeshi Naito) visit from Berlin

a few days later, and other visits by the Japanese to Taranto. Whole books have been written,

usually along the lines of "The first Pearl Harbor" etc.


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Of course it was naturally of great interest to them and they wanted to know all the details, but

there is little evidence that it influenced them at all, except perhaps to give them confidence that

such a feat was feasible with surprise, especially with their more numerous and better aircraft

and torpedoes.

Perhaps the country with most to learn from the Taranto raid was the United States. The lesson

that shallow water is no protection against a surprise torpedo attack in a harbor where their Fleet

is moored without anti-torpedo nets was not learned in time.

Thoughts

By comparison to many other events of the war, this one is little known in comparison, but few

would deny the bravery of the men involved, the sheer audacity of the attack and the relatively

small cost in British lives. Indeed, observing the Anniversary of such brave deeds is worthy of

our time and consideration.

British Forces

Commanded by Rear Admiral A L St G Lyster

CV Illustrious (Capt. Boyd)

CL Gloucester

CA York

CA Berwick

CL Glasgow

DD Hasty

DD Havock

DD Ilex

DD Hyperion

Attack Force: 21 Swordfish from 813, 815, 819, & 824 Sqns.

1st wave of 12 A/C led by Lt.-Cdr. M. W. Williamson, 815 Sqn.

2nd wave of 9 A/C led by Lt.-Cdr. J. W. Hale, 819 Sqn.

Fighters embarked on Illustrious for air defense:

806 Sqn. Consisting of (14) Fulmars & (4) Sea Gladiators


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Italian Forces

Known Italian Naval Forces present at Taranto

Port commander Vice-Admiral Arturo Riccardi

Main Battlefleet under command of Vice-Admiral Inigo Campioni

BB Littorio—9th Naval Division under Rear Admiral Carlo Bergamini

BB Vittorio Veneto—9th Naval Division

BB Caio Duilio (recommissioned July 7th, 1940 after rebuild)

BB Andrea Doria (recommissioned October 20, 1940, not considered operational—crew still in

training after rebuild)

BB Conte di Cavour—5th Naval Division

BB Giulio Cesare—5th Naval Division

CA Pola—1st Cruiser Division (Flag—Vice Admiral Angelo Iachino)

CA Zara—1st Cruiser Div. CA Goriza—1st Cruiser Div.

CA Fiume—1st Cruiser Div.

CA Trento—3rd Cruiser Div.

CA Trieste—3rd Cruiser Div.

CA Bolzano—3rd Cruiser Div.

CL Abruzzi—8th Cruiser Div.

CL Garibaldi—8th Cruiser Div.

DD Carducci

DD Alfieri

DD Oriani

DD Gioberti

DD Lampo

DD Baleno

DD Folgore

DD Libeccio

Seaplane Tender Giuseppe Miraglia


December 2015

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Christmas of 1967

The first signs of the Christmas Season on the frozen shores of Lake Erie came just before

Thanksgiving, with the arrival of the Sears and Roebuck Christmas Catalog, or more

specifically, the Christmas toy spectacular in the back pages. In 1967 I was seven years old. For

weeks prior to Thanksgiving, the TV commercials during our sacred Saturday morning cartoons

had bombarded us kids with the latest and greatest in toys and games. The wizards of Madison

Avenue had just recently started marketing directly to children. They promised hours of endless

fun while making us the envy of all our friends. It is good to see some things never change. But

now the catalog had arrived. No longer did we have to sit by the TV waiting for a glimpse of

our Christmas wish. We had the catalog to peruse at our leisure, staring longingly like a bulldog

through the butcher shop window at our own version of Christmas bliss.

Within the glistening pages of the catalog was what every kid dreamed about all year. The

"Huge Christmas Toy Spectacular" contained every type of gleaming, shining, plastic and

electric fun known to kids. I quickly, almost impatiently, paged past the Barbie’s and other

dolls, past the Susie Homemaker kitchens and Easy-Bake Ovens. There were "Girl" games no

self-respecting boy of seven would be caught dead playing. Mystery Date was a board game

where girls would spend hours searching behind doors for "Mr. Right" "Is he a Dream or a

Dud" I believe the ad said. I think most women who played the game as girls would find that

strangely prophetic in retrospect.

Then it happened! I turned the page and there they were! Boy Toys! G.I. Joe and all his

buddies, all their jeeps, tanks and planes too! Joe was the first "Action Figure" Those wizards of

Madison Avenue again. They knew no dad was going to let his boy play with dolls. Hot Wheels

were next up. I can remember my neighbors, the Kromer Brothers, beating each other senseless

with the orange track. Ah...the things that make Christmas memories. The following pages

were loaded with every type of toy and game imaginable. Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots,

Mousetrap, Battleship, Stratego, Battling Tops, Mattel's Talking Football to name but a few. My

brother John had an electric football game that consisted of a vibrating football field. The

players would vibrate around in circles and smash into each other as if they were in a tiny mosh

pit.

Then there were what I call "Nerd Toys". Science labs, erector sets and chemistry sets. I was

given a chemistry set one Christmas when I was older. The thing actually had instructions and

material for making a stink bomb! What did my parents expect me to do? Wait around for three

weeks for magic crystals to grow or the instant gratification of a stink bomb. Well, that's

another story.


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Christmas of 1967

Turn the page. Every kind and size of bicycle a kid could want. English Racers and Stingrays

with banana seats and sissy bars. Heaven! Then, sleds and toboggans. For those of you who

have experienced a White Christmas, you may relate to this observation. When you wanted a

sled for Christmas it would be bone dry on the big day. When you wanted a bike, two feet of

snow. Go figure.

Then it happened. I had turned the page and stumbled into the Holy Grail of Christmas toys

for a seven year old boy, electric slot car racing sets and electric trains! I fondled and earmarked

each and every page. I returned repeatedly over the following weeks, carefully weighing the

pros and cons that could bear on this momentous decision. By Thanksgiving, I had made my

choice. I was to be king of my own railroad empire!

Now, the hard part, how was a kid of seven to get such a prize? I had to see Santa Claus. To

me, at the age of seven, Santa was an enigma. He was both exciting and terrifying. A feeling I

transferred to girls during my teenage years. In 1967, He was also not so easy to see. There

weren't shopping malls every few miles. My parents would bundle us up in our snow suits and

trek to Downtown Cleveland. For those of you unfamiliar with this particularly northern article

of clothing, picture yourself as a little Stay-Puft Marshmallow man in a brightly colored nylon

wetsuit that makes swishing sounds when you walk.

My dad would drive us to Higbee's Department Store on Public Square. I, along with every

other kid in Cleveland, looked forward to going to Higbee's on Thanksgiving weekend. The

Square was miraculously transformed from a dismal collection of aging monuments and bus

stops to a snow covered winter wonderland with amazing multi-colored lights and a huge

Christmas tree. It was then that it first hit me. Christmas REALLY was coming.

If you've seen the movie "A Christmas Story", you've seen downtown Cleveland and

Higbee's the way I remember it as a kid. The movie was filmed there in the early eighties. Just

as Ralphie and his pals did in the movie, we kids would stand with our noses pressed against the

glass of Higbee's massive window gazing at the wealth of toys on display.

A little kid needs to remember a few things when seeing Santa. Do not freak out and scream,

tell him you've been good and use the word really a lot. As in " I really, really, really,

really NEED a train set".


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Christmas of 1967

When I was seven, the weeks preceding Christmas Eve were filled with decorating,

daydreaming and endless conversations with siblings and friends about our Christmas wishes. I

watched all the Christmas specials on TV, like Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer and a Charlie

Brown Christmas. Back then, every TV sit-com and drama had a sickening sweet Christmas

episode, unlike today when a Christmas episode is when the guys on CSI try to figure out who

chain sawed the department store Santa.

Christmas Eve at my house was always crazy; last minute shopping and wrapping, music and

visitors. As it got later in the day and things began to settle down, my mom would prepare our

traditional Christmas Eve Dinner. On Christmas Day we would travel to my Grandmother's

house for a big dinner with my aunts and uncles and cousins and my siblings and we kids would

receive our annual allotment of socks and underwear.

On this particular Christmas Eve my mom prepared roast beef. I remember this distinctly.

Later as I was getting ready for bed, I was in the kitchen preparing the traditional plate of

Christmas cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer when my father entered the

room. Leaning in the doorway, he asked me what I was doing. I explained the tradition of the

cookies and milk for Santa and the carrots for the reindeer. He then had a story for me.

"Cookies and milk...uh?"

"Yes" I replied.

"And every kid does this?" he asked.

"Yep, or they don't get good presents" I said.

Then my father started the biggest con ever pulled on a seven year old.

"You know, Rick”, he started.

"By the time Santa gets to Cleveland, I think he's gonna be kinda sick of milk and cookies". "I

think Santa would like something different".

Puzzled by this slap in the face to tradition, I listened.

He continued, "I think you should make Santa a Sandwich!"


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Christmas of 1967

I carefully weighed this new information and considered its source. "What kind of sandwich,

Dad?" I asked. Knowing he had me on the hook, he grinned and his blue eyes sparkled.

For the next few minutes, my dad and I made the best left-over roast beef sandwich ever

created. Apparently, Santa likes his roast beef sandwiches just like my dad does, thick slabs of

beef, salt and pepper and Swiss cheese, topped with a slice of red onion on buttered rye with a

touch of mayo. When the sandwich was completed, I asked my dad,

"Should we give the reindeer something different too?”

And without missing a beat, He replied "No, carrots are ok, but I heard Rudolph likes dill

pickles".

The next morning there was a note from Santa. In a strangely familiar left-handed scrawl,

Santa thanked me for my thoughtfulness in making him a sandwich. He went on to say he was

pretty sick of milk and cookies and the sandwich really hit the spot. He P.S.'d that Rudolph

enjoyed the pickle too!

Like every kid on Christmas Eve, I took forever to fall asleep. I awoke every half hour or so,

looked at my bedside clock and tried to sleep again. On several occasions I even went to my

window and pressed my ear against the frosty glass to listen for sleigh bells. After several trips

to my parent’s room and being told to go back to bed, we were finally allowed to go down

stairs.

Like most homes with four kids, Christmas Morning was chaos. My mom would try to

organize everything and have us open presents one by one and take our picture. She would have

had more luck trying to organize a train wreck. Dad was bleary-eyed, having been up late

assembling toys. But he always had his cup of coffee and a bemused look on Christmas

Morning. As my siblings and I ripped open our gifts and the number of wrapped gifts dwindled,

I began to worry. No train set! Soon EVERY present was open and no train set! I was

disappointed, but I still had received some cool toys. I was busy playing with those when I

heard my dad bellow from the kitchen, "Who left the basement light on?" That was something

we kids did on a regular basis. Dad then called out, "Rick, go downstairs and shut off the light".

I was thinking "Why me?" as I walked to the kitchen. I passed my dad at the top of the

basement stairs. He grinned and patted me on the head as he followed me down the basement

stairs.


December 2015

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Christmas of 1967

As I descended the stairs it came into view. Set up on our old ping pong table was my new

train set! It was a huge oval layout with switches and sidings for extra cars. There was a village

with buildings and streets complete with lights! At one end was a tunnel and trees. There in the

miniature station, was my yellow and red diesel locomotive with four cars and a caboose. It was

even better than the one in the Christmas Toy Spectacular!

As I walked around the table both surprised and in awe, my dad sat on the basement stairs

laughing. The two of us spent all morning in the basement playing with my train until we had to

leave for my grandmother's. As soon as we returned, I was back in the basement. My dad soon

followed. Thanks to my dad, 1967 was the year I became king of my own railroad empire.

I still love Christmas. I attribute it to my mother and father. They always worked hard to

provide us with everything we had, yet taught us how important it was to give.

For some reason, I usually find myself outside late on Christmas Eve. I enjoy the quiet

solitude. I gaze at the stars, feel the chill air and remember all the wonderful Christmas' I've

had. I say a prayer of thanks for all the things I've been granted. I thank God for my family and

friends. Most of all, on Christmas Eve, I thank God for my parents. Dad was my best friend and

confidante. He taught me the joy and wonderment of Christmas. Mom taught me compassion

and the importance of giving. So, Merry Christmas Mom and Dad!

To all my family and friends,

thanks for reading. I hope this

brought back some of your own

fond Christmas memories. I wish

you all a Merry Christmas with

Peace and Love in the coming New

Year!

Rick

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December 2015

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Tamiya 1/32 scale Mosquito Group Build By Mike Budzeika

David Frederick, Mark Glidden, Steve Taylor, and I have had previous discussions about the

new Tamiya 1/32 scale Mosquito, if we all got the kit we would do a mini group build.

Well, we finally all got the kit, Mark and I got them first, Dave and Steve got the kits up north

at the Milpitas contest. There was a vendor at the show who had the kits at the lowest price I

have seen. I have seen this vendor at multiple shows on Northern California, he has had great

prices on his merchandise. Sean stated in his most recent President’s Column about going to

contests, you don’t know what you can see or find, including great deals, he’s right.

We have decided to try to meet once a month for the group build, granted it’s hard to do

painting at these meetings, but you can get a lot of parts put together. We also came up with the

completion schedule, slated for the Silicon contest of 2017. They had discussed trying for

Orange Con of 2016, but that’s less than a year away and I’m a slow builder. I held out for

some time in 2017.

We already had our first meeting in October, this

meeting was held at Dave’s house and we each

had our own work table. Here is Mark and Steve

at one table and Dave in the corner.


December 2015

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Tamiya 1/32 scale Mosquito Group Build

We saw a couple movies, and Dave made brunch.

Here is Chef Dave whipping up some eggs and his

French toast. During the day we were all able to get

some work done. I worked on the tires which are an

ingenious design, because of the tread design if they

were just halves a lot of

the tread detail could be

lost sanding the seams.

Each of the tires are 14

parts and they look great

after assembly.

I also purchased EagleCals decals as I have heard from someone

who has already built the Mosquito the decals supplied are heavy,

typical Tamiya decals.

We had a good day of progress, food, and movies. Maybe I’ll get

some painting done on the cockpit before next meeting, but I have

so many other things in the works. Oh well I have until sometime

into 2017 to complete the Mosquito. MB


December 2015

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NEWS FLASH –IPMS Election Results

David Frederick elected as President

The November 2015 election reports a landslide victory for the IPMS presidency. David

Frederick campaign slogan “Step into the winners circle: Vote for David Frederick” is a catchy

phrase as David is surrounded by models who do not appear to have any seams, but possibly some

silicon filler. The 2016 year is upon us as Vice President steps up to the presidency from Sean

Fallesen stepping down to allow him to fill in the void. This quick political maneuver mirrors his

Nissan 350 Z lane change on the speedway. David is quoted to say “I have positioned myself to

be nestled between the peaks of two models and can only admire the beauty of the build”. Spoken

like a true modeler. This incoming president wishes all IPMS members: Happy Holiday and an

outstanding 2016 new year!


December 2015

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Upcoming Events

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Winterfest 2016

Secret Society of Model Builders

Air & Space Museum Annex

Gillespie Field

335 Kenny St.

El Cajon, CA

Contact Daniel Covey

[email protected]

Saturday, February 6, 2016

IPMS Sacramento Silverwings Wintercon

Town and Country Lutheran Church & School

4049 Marconi Avenue

Sacramento, CA 95821

Email Scott Bell [email protected]

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Pasadena Modelers present Valleycon 2016

Peterson Automotive Museum

6060 Wilshire Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90036

Contact George Creed

[email protected]

Saturday, April 2, 2016

IPMS Silicon Valley Scale Modelers

SVSM 2016 Classic

Napredak Hall

770 Montague Expressway

San Jose, CA 95131

Theme: Clocks a Ticking




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Features of Detail & Scale’s first digital publication

on the McDonnell F3H Demon include:

1. A complete Developmental History of the aircraft including how it was designed to meet

specific needs of the Navy and where it fit in to the development of carrier based jet

fighters in the 1950s.

2. A chapter on Demon Variants that covers the prototypes and each production version of

the Demon, explaining in considerable detail the differences and the weapons each could

employ.

3. A chapter called Demon Daze written by several pilots who flew the Demon. This chapter

is filled with informative and interesting observations from pilots who actually strapped

into the aircraft and took it into the skies!

4. A chapter covering Squadrons & Deployments takes looks at every squadron that flew

the Demon with paint schemes and markings illustrated by photographs and color

artwork developed specifically for this publication. Every deployment made by these

squadrons is covered with a brief unit history of each. Many rare and never-before-

published color photographs of Demons are also included in this section and throughout

the book.

5. Demon Details is the most extensive detail chapter ever included in a Detail & Scale

publication illustrating the Demon with scores of detail photographs. All of the photos

are in color, and almost all were taken specifically for this publication to provide the best

and most complete coverage possible in this detailed look at the aircraft.

6. Detail & Scale’s usual Modeler’s Section that discusses, reviews, and illustrates the scale

models of the Demon.

Other features of the book include four-view scale drawings in color and original and highly

detailed artwork illustrating the cockpit details and the two types of ejection seats, all of which

were created specifically for this publication. There is also a look at the restoration process for

the Demon on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation.

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