August 24th, 1940
Taranto, 06:41 - When the planes of the first wave arrive over Taranto, the Italian defenders are deceived by the fact that many of them (the Swordfish and the SBC-4) are biplanes, looking (from a distance) like Fiat fighters. The anti-aircraft guns remain silent at first and only really start to open fire after the attack has started.
Due to communication problems between the French bombers and the British torpedo bombers, the planned attack plan (the bombers were to strike first) is only implemented in a certain confusion, all the planes attacking more or less simultaneously. However, this does not have any consequences: it is a beautiful morning and the Italian ships are clearly visible, with the battleships in the "Mare Grande" of Taranto and the cruisers in the "Mare Piccolo". No Italian fighter being in sight, the Fulmar dive to strafe the nearby hydrobase, the B-339 remaining in cover.
The battleship Littorio attracts a large part of the shots of the first wave. It is soon hit by three torpedoes (two of them on the front part of the hull) and three bombs, before it could really make use of its impressive anti-aircraft weaponry. The ship sinks by the bow, with water rising up to the base of the A turret, fires ravaging the middle of the ship. The Caio Duilio also receives three torpedoes, but does not digest them as well. This old battleship is much less robust than its young companion and the ship capsizes at 07:02. However, an even more spectacular result is obtained against the Conte di Cavour. Already hit by two torpedoes, it is hit by two armour-piercing bombs, one of which pierces the armored deck and explodes in the main forward ammunition bay. The huge ball of fire is even seen from the city of Taranto and a big cloud of black smoke starts to rise over the unfortunate Cavour.
The allied planes then turn their attention towards the Mare Piccolo and the heavy cruiser Fiume soon receives a bomb in the engine room. Shortly afterwards, a torpedo hits the stern and the cruiser sinks , its hull resting on the bottom of the basin. The brand new light cruiser Duca Degli Abruzzi also receives a torpedo that explodes between the forward turrets.
The planes of the first wave, having exhausted their ammunition, begin to withdraw, while the anti-aircraft fire becomes more intense, if not more effective. Two Swordfish are lost; one dove into the sea off Taranto, but its crew can be recovered by a Walrus launched from a cruiser and which was patrolling the area precisely for this purpose. An SBC-4 is seen falling, probably damaged by the explosion of the Cavour. Two other dive bombers are damaged, but manage to return to their carriers.
07:26 - The second wave arrives over Taranto. The French dive-bombers concentrate on the cruisers while the Swordfish, armed with bombs, attack the harbour port facilities and fuel depots. The Fiume is narrowly missed by two bombs (GP model 1930), which aggravate the damage to its hull and so severely damaged the destroyer Aquilone, anchored near the cruiser, that it capsizes shortly afterwards. The Duca degli Abruzzi is hit by two 500 kg bombs; one disabled her rudder, the other explodes the gasoline in the cruiser's seaplane, starting a violent fire.
The destroyer Borea, which survived the combat of August 20th, is hit by a 500 kg bomb which causes the ammunition to explode, destroying the rear part of the ship. Following the example of the Swordfish, the SBC-4s also attack the harbour installations and the uel depots.
07h32 - Three Fiat G.50 finally appear, followed four minutes later by five CR.32. The Italian fighters are victims of the chronic communication problems between the Italian Navy and Air Force, aggravated by the attack on the Grottaglie airfield.
Yvon Lagadec (op. cit.): "A radiant sun offered us a magnificent view of the Italian coast and the port of Taranto, although a veil of smoke from a large sinking ship partially masked it. Farther on, another large ship was lying down lamentably, with its keel in the air. Obviously, the first wave had done a good job.
But, from our point of view, the hunters, it had had the good idea of waking up the Italian fighters, of which half a dozen representatives appeared on the scene five or ten minutes after our arrival, while the escorts of the first wave had nothing to put under their teeth. They were Fiat CR.32s and G.50s. Our B-339s were not not great beasts of the sky. But against the Fiat, we were competitive!
I have a hazy memory of the fight. I knew I had to follow my leader, so I followed him: dive, right, left... until I discovered that our maneuvers had brought me right behind an Italian. I forgot about the leader and I only thought of keeping my aim centered on the spotted fuselage of my prey, while angrily pulling the trigger of my machine guns. At one point, I must have heard someone shouting a warning, but I didn't pay attention, because that Italian bastard was zigzagging like a madman! Finally, I saw flames shooting up and devouring the black and white badge of the pilot's silhouette detached from his plane and his parachute opened. I shouted "Yippee", like in a western movie. It was only then that I realized that I was over the sea, with Taranto far behind me, that there was no one else in the sky, and that the burning smell I smelled was not coming from the Italian, who had already dove into the Mediterranean, but from my engine."
The air battle sees two CR.32s and a G.50 fall. A French fighter, damaged, lands in the sea off Taranto. Its pilot, Midshipman Lagadec, is recovered by a Walrus.
While returning to the fleet, the Swordfish of the Eagle are attacked by three Breda 65, but these are in their turn chased by SBC-4 of the AB4 squadron (what a feast for the pilots of these bombers!). One Breda is destroyed and another damaged.
The Italian anti-aircraft guns are more effective than the fighters. A Swordfish and an SBC-4 of the second wave are shot down.
The Regia Aeronautica does its best to find the attackers but, guided by the Illustrious' 79z radar, Fulmar and B-339 destroy three Cant Z501 seaplanes and two SM.79 before they can even see the fleet.
