STORMO! Forums

I have found Axis Order of Battle information showing Italian units deployed in Sicily, North Africa, Rhodes, etc., but I have not found any of these that ever showed any Italian units stationed in Crete. Does anyone have any knowledge of Italian units being stationed there?

Thanks in advance

Indianapolis

The Regia Aeronautica did not have any units based in Crete.
The closest bases were on the island of Rodi (Rhodes), those being Gadurra and Leros.
The units based there were the following:
BOMBER UNITS: GADURRA
39 STORMO, 34 GRUPPO, 67 and 68 Sq. equipped with SM79
39 STORMO, 56 GRUPPO, 222 and 223 Sq. equipped with SM81
39 STORMO, 92 GRUPPO, 200 and 201 Sq. equipped with SM79
--------------, 41 GRUPPO, 204 and 205 Sq. equipped with CZ1007, SM82
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FIGHTER UNITS: LEROS
--------------, 163 Aut., CR42
--------------, 161 Aut., RO 43/44
RECONN UNITS: LEROS
---------------, 84 GRUPPO, 147 and 185 Sq., CZ501 CZ506

Vincent,

Thanks for those OB's. Could you please tell me your source and the date those were for? I was very curious, a part of Crete was occupied by Italy, they did have troops there. I thought maybe I was missing something somewhere, kind of odd they would not have an airbase too. Have you ever seen anything in the literature why there had no air units stationed there?

Thanks for the info.

Indianapolis

Hi,
Here is the website where I got my info.http://www.dodecaneso.org/regiainegeo.htm
Vincent.

Vincent,

Awesome, I went to the link and found I had been there before! I had had copied the file to my old computer before it crashed a couple of years ago. One of those sites you find but never can remember how to find it again. Thanks, that was answer and a bonus!

Indianapolis

Indianapolis wrote:Vincent,

Thanks for those OB's. Could you please tell me your source and the date those were for? I was very curious, a part of Crete was occupied by Italy, they did have troops there. I thought maybe I was missing something somewhere, kind of odd they would not have an airbase too. Have you ever seen anything in the literature why there had no air units stationed there?

Thanks for the info.

Indianapolis

There were ground units stationed as occupation forces on Crete - 'Siena' inf. Div., 51st Special Bde. however there were no air bases in Crete as Vince mentioned. In all there were 11 airbases operated by the RA as part of AEGE HQ Rodi August 1941 that controlled the Aegean Islands and later Greece, including airbases at Rhodes, Cefalonia, Corfu and on the mainland (Greece).

Another piece of valuable info.

Thanks to both of you!

Indianapolis