Editing Macchi C.205 Veltro (section)

===Battle of Capo Pula===
On 2 August 1943, two British [[Bristol Beaufighter|Beaufighters]] were downed and the Italians sent a [[CANT Z.506|CANT Z.506 ''Airone'']] aircraft escorted by four C.205Vs on a search-and-rescue mission. A group of P-40s attacked the Z.506, but despite the defence put up by the ''Veltros'', one American fighter crashed into the Z.506 and both fell into the sea.<ref name="Mattioli">Mattioli 2002, {{page needed|date=January 2025}}.</ref>

A USAAF search and rescue [[PBY Catalina]] mission was also mounted, escorted by 12 [[P-38 Lightning|P-38]]s. C.202 and C.205s of 51° ''Stormo'', led by Ennio Tarantola, intercepted this flight. The Catalina was taken by surprise on the surface near the Sardinian coast, having broken a propeller blade in the heavy sea conditions. The Italians also claimed to have downed all 12 P-38s, whereas the Americans claimed three or four victories over the Axis fighters with no losses. Later records showed that only the Catalina and the C.202 of'' Maresciallo'' Bianchi, a close friend of Tarantola, had been shot down.<ref name="Mattioli 65">Mattioli 2002, p. 65.</ref>

The two or three victories over P-38s claimed by Tarantola are not supported by any data available; however, no further SAR missions were made by Americans to search for the downed pilots. Except for a crewman killed by strafing, the crew of the Catalina was saved, thanks to a fast vessel of the [[Royal Navy]] whose captain was awarded the [[Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)|DSC]] for battling adverse sea conditions, coastal battery fire and enemy aircraft while rescuing the survivors.<ref name="Mattioli"/>