Mediterranean
Reconnaissance Information
By Andrew Arthy
3 September
1943
On an escort
mission for 24 Bostons to D.5260 from 08:05 to 09:40, eight aircraft of 154
Squadron chased a Ju 88 reconnaissance aircraft to the north of Sicily during
the return flight, shooting it down in the sea from 34,000 ft.
Ju 88 T-1 WNr.
430 770 ‘4U + KH’ of 1.(F)/123 was posted missing on a mission to Sicily. The
pilot was Lt. Friedrich Ungethüm.
4 September
1943
From 12:00 to
15:45 a Ju 88 flew from Frosinone on reconnaissance from Cape Alice to 14 Ost 7084, 13 Ost 7547, 8538, 8912, and back to Frosinone. No shipping traffic
was seen, and visibility was 40 to 50 km. [original times]
5 September
1943
Ju 88 D-1 WNr.
430 854 ‘8H + IL’ of 3.(F)/33, flying
from Frosinone, was posted missing on a mission during the day. The pilot was Uffz. Hermann Müller.[1]
Ju 88 A-4 WNr.
8674 ‘4D + BP’ of II./K.G. 30 was lost on a mission in the Bergamo area,
although the crew were all unhurt., including pilot Uffz. Rudolf Block.
6 September
1943
A.Gr. 122 was
ordered to focus its main effort during the night of 5/6 September offshore of
Sardinia to pick up Allied landing operations, especially from the area of
Bizerta and harbours west of there as far as Bougie. A.Gr. 122 was also to
reconnoitre offshore south of Naples and north of Sicily as far as Cap San
Vito, east of Calabria, and west of Sicily as far as Syracuse to pick up
landings. On the morning of 6 September, A.Gr. 122 was to carry out offshore
reconnaissance north and east of Sicily, and photographic reconnaissance of
Trapeze, Jezebel, Mildew, Uncouth [codenames] and Santa Theresa di Riva. Watch was to be kept on
Lipari Islands, offshore of Apulia, and sea reconnaissance west. In the
afternoon there was to be offshore reconnaissance north and east of Sicily,
over the Tyrrhenian sea, the area 38 to 39 North, 10 to 12 East, sea
reconnaissance south-east, and offshore of Apulia.
Ju 88 D-1 WNr.
430 880 of 1.(F)/33 was lost on a mission in the Mediterranean when it made a
forced landing on the sea due to technical problems. The crew was rescued.
Table: 2. Fliegerdivision Strength Return, evening
6 September 1943
1.(F)33 13 11 0 11 … … …
1.(F)/122 9 6 0 8 3 3 2
2./128 8 7 0 11 6 3 2
Night 6/7
September 1943
For the night of
6/7 September, A.Gr. 122 was to carry out photographic reconnaissance of
Rickshaw, if it wasn’t carried out on the night of 5/6 September.
*******************************************************
Early on 7
September 1943 the A.Gr. 122 Ic reported that at 22:40 in 13 Ost 4967 there were two ships,
presumably destroyers, course 270 degrees, medium speed, eleven to seventeen
knots. In 13 Ost 4984 there were two
ships, not clearly identifiable.
*******************************************************
At 00:39 a Ju 88
took off from Frosinone on night reconnaissance of the Messina Straits area.
Two ships were sighted at 03:45 30 to 40 miles south of Messina.
7 September
1943
During the night
of 7/8 September 1943 A.Gr. 122 was to carry out offshore reconnaissance north
and east of Sicily, the west and east coast of Calabria, offshore
reconnaissance of Apulia and sea areas between Naples and the north coast of
Sicily. The unit was to pick up enemy sea transports for landing undertakings.
In the forenoon the Gruppe was to carry
out offshore reconnaissance of north and east Sicily, including aerial
photographs of harbours and point of departure of enemy traffic going across.
There was to be patrol of the Lipari Islands and the sea area between Naples
and Sicily. Also in the forenoon, offshore reconnaissance was to be carried out
of Apulia. In the afternoon A.Gr. 122 was to carry out offshore reconnaissance
north and east of Sicily, and the Tyrrhenian Sea, 13 Ost 09 and 19, along with sea reconnaissance south-east, offshore
reconnaissance of Apulia.
*******************************************************
Between 13:15
and 15:47 a Ju 88 flew sea reconnaissance along the offshore area off Apulia,
route 14 Ost 6187, 8057, 9041, 9137,
7285, 7127, along the coast to Gallipoli. No enemy shipping traffic was seen. [original times]
*******************************************************
At 10:25
aircraft M8 of 1.(F)/122 landed. [original time]
*******************************************************
From …:00 [first two digits missing]
to 11:30 sea reconnaissance was carried out on route 04 Ost 8159 (Messina), 13 Ost
3939, 2967, 1875, 3986, 5847, 6489. [original times]
*******************************************************
At 14:50 a
German reconnaissance aircraft, probably of A.Gr. 122, reported in 13 Ost 3918 that there was a convoy of
approximately 60 landing craft with one cruiser and five escorts, course 45
degrees. There were two flying boats over the convoy. [original time]
*******************************************************
Ju 88 ‘8H + FH’
of 1.(F)/33 took off at 15:42. [original time]
Ju 88 ‘F6 + EH’
of 1.(F)/122 took off at 15:44. [original time]
*******************************************************
Ju 88 D-1 WNr.
430 745 ‘4U + NH’ of 1.(F)/123 was lost on a mission to Malta, with all of the
crew posted missing, including pilot Uffz. Friedrich Greuel.
*******************************************************
On this day a
2.(F)/122 Ju 88 marked ‘F6 + NK’ took off for a mission.
*******************************************************
During the day
the II. Fliegerkorps Ic reported that
in the Straits of Messina there were twelve large and 25 small landing craft.
In 14 Ost 5000 – 13 Ost 5900 – 4920 – 40 – 60 – 5820 – 6810
– 6900 there were no sightings. Offshore reconnaissance of western Calabria to
a depth of ten kilometres saw no observations due to haze.
At 14:00 the Ic
reported twelve large and 50 small landing craft scattered over the Straits of
Messina. From 5000/14 Ost – 5900 – 4920 – 4940 – 4960 – 5820 – 6810 – 690/13
Ost there were no sightings. The offshore area of the west coast of Calabria to
a depth of ten kilometres was not observed due to haze. [original times]
A.Gr. 122 had
three Ju 88s due up by 04:30. Two aircraft of A.Gr. 122 were due up or up
before 12:00, perhaps in addition to the three due up by 04:30. One aircraft
was down at 10:30. One aircraft of 1.(F)/122 was up at 15:45. One aircraft of
1.(F)/33 was up at 15:45. Another of 1.(F)/33 was up from 11:15 to 15:15 on sea
reconnaissance to the sea area of the central Mediterranean due south of the
Taranto Gulf. Other areas covered by A.Gr. 122 reconnaissance included offshore
of the north coast of Sicily, and from Sardinia – Bougie – off Tunis –
Sardinia, including photographic reconnaissance of Bizerta at 14:45, from 14:00
to 18:15. [original times]
Night 7/8
September 1943
At 03:25 a
German reconnaissance aircraft reported that in 14 Ost 4189 ships were spotted in a smokescreen. [original times]
8 September
1943
One Me 410 took
off at 04:30 to carry out photographic reconnaissance of Palermo. A Ju 88 took
off at 05:30 to reconnoitre the Apulia area. One Ju 88 flew the usual
reconnaissance west, period including 07:00 to 09:00. [original times]
*******************************************************
From 05:30 a Ju
88 flew sea reconnaissance to the Sea of Apulia, but saw no enemy. [original times]
*******************************************************
At 16:10 a pilot
of 3.(F)/33 claimed a P-38 shot down 80 km south-west of Naples.
Between 15:20
and 17:00 Lt. Vogelsong and Major Burton E. McKenzie of the 49th FS/14th FG
damaged a Ju 88 at Ischia Island.
*******************************************************
Night 8/9
September 1943
At 00:35 a
German night reconnaissance aircraft reported the arrival of shipping off
Salerno.
9 September
1943
Ju 88 D-1 WNr.
430 601 ‘8H + FH’ of 1.(F)/33 was lost on a mission, cause and location
unknown, including pilot Ofw. Fritz
Wenger.
11 September
1943
At 11:30 Ju 88
F6 + NK took off for south-east reconnaissance. [original time]
At 13:00 Ju 88
F6 + JK took off for offshore reconnaissance of Apulia. [original time]
At 14:30 Me 410
‘F6 + ?K’ took off for offshore reconnaissance between Cape Circeo and the
Straits of Messina, the north Sicilian coast, and the Tyrrhenian sea, Pl.Qu. 14 Ost 00, 10, 20, 13 Ost
09, 19. [original time]
12 September
1943
The Allies
carried out a bombing attack on Frosinone airfield at … resulting in ten dead and fifteen
wounded. The material damaged amounted to two aircraft destroyed and five
damaged, while rendering the airfield unserviceable.
The Luftflotte 2 Chief QM signalled the Air
Staff QMG. 4 Abt. on the evening of 14 September that the entire stock of GM-1
at Frosinone was destroyed by air attack, so supplies had to be sent to
Rome/Guidonia instead.
After this raid
2.(F)/122 moved from Frosinone to Guidonia.
67 Allied
bombers attacked Frosinone airfield, with sticks laid across hangers and
through dispersal areas.
12/13
September 1943
Ju 88 ‘5M + R’,
piloted by Fw. Schlegel, of Wekusta 26, Foggia, took off at 23:50 on
12 September, and was overdue. Its last wireless communication was 23:59. Its
task was shadowing for bomber formations. [original times]
Ju 88 D-1 WNr.
430 642 ‘5M + 1R’ of Wekusta 26 was
lost in the Salerno area, with one crewman killed, and two unhurt. The pilot, Fw. Helmut Schlegel, was one of those
unhurt. [loss list says 12
September 1943]
13 September
1943
Ju 88 D-1 WNr.
430 545 ‘T4 + CH’ of 1.(F)/33 was lost flying a mission under Luftflotte 3, with the pilot being Fw. Arthur Geuther.
14 September
1943
1.(F)/122 landed
at 19:20. [original time]
Night 15/16
September 1943
German night
reconnaissance began to be active at 23:30.
16 September
1943
On a mission
from 11:00 to 12:00 a 307th FS/31st FG pilot downed a Ju 88 in T-8570, east of
Stromoli Island.
Lt. Hormats of
the 307th FS/31st FG, who had been a spare for a previous mission, was
returning to base in his Spitfire Mk. VC, flying east from Stromboli Island,
and just after turning back at 20,000 feet he saw a Ju 88 going south at 18,000
feet over the toe of Italy. He dove to attack, and closed to 400 yards and
3,000 feet altitude, firing all ammunition. The left engine caught fire, and
the Ju 88 crashed at T-8570.
2/Lt. Malcolm A.
Hormats of the 307th FS/31st FG claimed a Ju 88 destroyed at T-8570, east of
Stromoli Island, between 11:00 and 12:00.
20 September
1943
The Allied Y
Service reported that six Ju 88s based in the Rome area carried out shipping
reconnaissance during the day.
21 September
1943
At 12:00 an
aircraft of Gruppe 122 flew
reconnaissance over Apulia and the Gulf of Taranto. [original time]
22 September
1943
At 00:15 and
00:20 individual aircraft of Gruppe
122 took off for reconnaissance west and south. [original
times]
At 06:00 a
reconnaissance Ju 88 of Gruppe 122
was due up to reconnoitre Apulia. [original
times]
******************************************************
From 06:15 to
09:45 a reconnaissance Ju 88 of Gruppe
122 was to reconnoitre the Tyrrhenian
Sea and search for a large convoy. [original
times]
******************************************************
Between 07:15
and 09:45 a Me 410 of Gruppe 122 flew
photographic reconnaissance of Salerno and Palermo. [original times]
At 11:30 Ju 88
5MA took off, task Apulia. [original time]
At 12:00 Ju 88
‘F6 + HK’ of Gruppe 122 took off for
PR of harbours and airfields in Apulia. [original
time]
At 13:15 a Ju 88
of Gruppe 122 took off for
reconnaissance of the Tyrrhenian Sea. [original
times]
Night 22/23
September 1943
From 00:40 to
04:55 a Ju 88 of Gruppe 122 flew
reconnaissance of the Gulf of Taranto. [original
times]
23 September
1943
At 04:00 a Ju 88
of Gruppe 122 took off for a
reconnaissance mission of the western portion of the Tyrrhenian Sea. [original times]
******************************************************
At 05:10 a Ju 88
of Gruppe 122 took off to fly
reconnaissance in the sea area of Sardinia – Sicily. [original times]
******************************************************
At 05:26 a Ju 88
of Gruppe 122 took off for
reconnaissance of Apulia. [original times]
Night 23/24
September 1943
A German night
reconnaissance aircraft made numerous ship sightings in the Salerno area and
Tyrrhenian Sea from 00:45 to 03:05. [original
times]
24 September
1943
There was to be
sea reconnaissance of the Tyrrhenian Sea, and offshore reconnaissance of
Apulia. Photographic reconnaissance was to be carried out of Maddalena and
Bizerta harbours, weather permitting. There was also to be photographic
reconnaissance of Sicilian harbours on the west and north coasts, Sapri,
Salerno, Brindisi, Taranto, and Bari. There was also to be photographic
reconnaissance of Calabrian and Apulian airfields. Close reconnaissance was to
discover the direction of the enemy’s advance and main points of attack.
Ground-attack aircraft and fighters were to carry out the same tasks.
From 05:30 to
10:02 a security reconnaissance mission was flown by a Ju 88 between two and
seven degrees east to 39 degrees north. No shipping was seen. [original times]
From 14:25 to
16:45 a reconnaissance aircraft reported no enemy sightings in the western part
of the Tyrrhenian Sea. [original times]
******************************************************
From 13:30 to
19:20 a Ju 88 flew reconnaissance between two and seven degrees east to 37
degrees, 30 minutes north. No shipping was seen. [original
times]
******************************************************
Ten Spitfires of
72 Squadron patrolled PEACHES beach between 15:35 and 17:05, and W/Cdr. Dundas
and F/Sgt. Larlee destroyed a Ju 88.
A Me 410 of
2.(F)/122 was shot down in combat at Avellino, with the two crewmen both
wounded.
******************************************************
At 10:30 a
reconnaissance report after landing noted no shipping movements were seen in
the Tyrrhenian Sea. [original time]
28 September
1943
II. Fliegerkorps
operations were restricted to two by night, and three by day, all of which were
reconnaissance.
A Me 410 of
2.(F)/122 was lost east of Corsica on a mission, with the crewmen both posted
missing.
30 September
1943
At 16:20 HMS Alynbank [hard to read] opened fire on a high-flying
aircraft. At 16:21 there was an air raid warning, with all clear at 16:35.
The CO of the
31st FG, Col. Charles Milton McCorkle, claimed an Me 210 destroyed at 16:30
from N-7315 to N-1482.
In the afternoon
six Spitfires of the 309th FS/31st FG, including two Spitfire Mk. IXs,
patrolled Peaches beach, and saw a single Me 410 at 21,000 feet. They were
fired upon from 600 yards, but Col. McCorkle, with Lt. Griffing as his number
two, attacked from behind from 300 yards. He hit the port engine, from which
white glycol came. One of his cannons jammed, but Col. McCorkle continued
firing with his machine-guns, causing black and white smoke to come from the
port engine. The enemy then turned sharply to try and evade, going from 21,000
to 3,000 feet in a dive. The American broke off the attack when his
machine-guns ran out of ammunition, and he was under fire from anti-aircraft
guns. They saw two small fires in the area where the German aircraft would have
crashed. Col. McCorkle’s aircraft received two .5 calibre bullet holes and some
damage from anti-aircraft fire from a friendly emplacement near Mercato San
Severino.
6 October
1943
In the evening two
Spitfires of the High-Altitude Flight at Gioia scrambled to intercept an enemy
aircraft east of the airfield, flying north-west. It proved to be a Ju 88.
F/Sgt. Saville returned after 50 minutes with engine trouble, but W/O. Fry
closed in. He received several holes in his aircraft, but attacked the Ju 88
from 100-150 yards, damaging it. He caught the aircraft at 36,000 feet.
10 October
1943
A Ju 88 D-1 of
2.(F)/122 crashed due to engine failure south-west of Perugia during a mission.
The three members of the crew were all injured.
11 October
1943
A Ju 88 A-4 of Wekusta 26 suffered 80 per cent damage
in a crash-landing due to engine problems at Perugia after a combat mission.
13 October
1943
A Ju 88 crew of
1.(F)/121, attached to 1.(F)/33, flew a reconnaissance mission from Montpellier
to Oran.
15 October
1943
At 11:45 Johnny
van Nus and Bernie Trotter of 1 SAAF Squadron took off from Gioia to patrol
eight miles out to sea from Brindisi to Bari. They were directed by a ground
controller to a bandit, which they identified as an Me 210, which they attacked
and shot down as it tried to escape. Van Nus hit it first, and Trotter finished
it off. It flew into the ground near Barletta and burst into flames.
A Me 410 A-1 of
2.(F)/122 was reported lost between Termoli and Bari, probably in combat, with
both crewmen reported missing.
A Ju 88 D of Wekusta 26 was lost on a mission on the
west coast of Calabria, cause unknown, with the four members of the crew all
reported missing.
19 October
1943
A Ju 88 crew of
1.(F)/121, attached to 1.(F)/33, flew a reconnaissance mission from Montpellier
to Algiers.
21 October
1943
Ju 88 ‘7A + HH’
of 1.(F)/121, attached to 1.(F)/33, was lost about 80 miles south of the
Balearic Islands, Spain, at 18:15, having taken off from Montpellier at 14:30
to shadow an eastbound convoy. The aircraft had taken off to relieve an
aircraft of 1.(F)/33, which had located the Allied convoy some hours earlier.
It was attacked and downed by a single-engine fighter from 1,500 feet, and the
crew was taken prisoner. The pilot was Oblt.
Franz Lorek. The crew were told that 80 aircraft of K.G. 26 and K.G. 100 were
to follow half an hour later to make a combined attack with radio-controlled
bombs and torpedos. They were to guide the attackers, and then photograph
results. They evaded Allied fighters several times, but at around 18:15, just
as the attacking bombers arrived, the Ju 88 was attacked from the port quarter
by two fighters, which the crew believed were Kittyhawks. The pilot ditched,
and they were picked up 48 hours later by a Polish destroyer.
A Me 410 of
2.(F)/122 was lost on a mission, cause and location unknown, with the two
crewmen reported missing.
23 October
1943
At 12:40 an Me
210 was going north-east over Bari, and was damaged by a patrolling 232
Squadron Spitfire.
A Ju 88 of Wekusta 26 was lost over either the east
or west coasts of Italy on a mission, with the crew all posted missing.
28 October
1943
A Me 410 A-1 of
2.(F)/122 was shot down by German anti-aircraft gunners east of Falionara
during a mission. The crew was unhurt.
30 October
1943
At 13:50 a
section of 1 SAAF Squadron scrambled from Pelata and saw a twin-engined
aircraft going south-east at 30,000 feet. They were gaining on the aircraft
when it flicked over into thick cumulus cloud, and they lost contact.
Perugia was
bombed, and a pilot of 2.(F)/122 was wounded.
4 November
1943
1/Lt. Edmund D.
Griffin, Jr. of the 523rd FS/27th FG claimed an Me 210 destroyed in the
vicinity of Guidonia at 10:50. At 11:00 1/Lt. Harry R. Cassleman and 1/Lt.
Edmund D. Griffin, Jr. of the same unit each claimed a Bf 109 G-2 destroyed in
the same location.
2.(F)/122
reported the loss of an Me 410 to fighters at Castellignano, the crew being
killed.
8 November
1943
Between 14:35
and 15:35 1/Lt. Clarence F. Musgrave of the 65th FS/57th FG claimed a Ju 88
shot down one mile of Pescara.
A bomb line
patrol near Vasto by four Spitfires of 1 SAAF Squadron began at 14:40, and they
heard over the R/T that Kittyhawks in the area “were having a dice, and heard one of them say that he had bopped one.”
A Ju 88 D-1 of
the Stab of (F)/122 was shot down by
enemy fighters north-east of Pescara, and the three-man crew was posted missing
as a result.
11 November
1943
An Me 410 of 2.(F)/122
was shot down by enemy aircraft south of Arpino, with the two-man crew killed.
Twelve Spitfires
of 43 Squadron flew a bomb line patrol between 13:45 and 15:10, and nine or
more enemy aircraft were reported. F/Lt. Turkington claimed a Ju 88 destroyed.
F/Lt. R.W.
Turkington of 43 Squadron claimed a victory, his fifth.
12 November
1943
On a mission
from 14:40 to 17:10 the 526th FS/86th FG claimed two Ju 88s destroyed north of
Rome, one in F-6020, and the other in F-3668.
2/Lt. William M.
Fox, 2/Lt. Clifford D. McLean and 1/Lt. August L. Woeltz of the 526th FBS/86th
FBG shared an aerial victory.
24 November
1943
One Me 410 and
one Ju 88 flew sea reconnaissance of Sardinia and Corsica, checking the weather
at La Maddalena and Bastia.
25 November
1943
Two Ju 88s and
two Me 410s flew reconnaissance over the Tyrrhenian Sea and elsewhere.
26 November 1943
At 13:35 a Ju 88
that seemed to be returning from a reconnaissance flight was fired upon at the
Cascano road junction [probably]
to Sessa while at 1,000 feet. Eleven rounds were fired by the 115 LAA Regt RA.
A/377 Bty fired nine rounds before having to cease fire due to Spitfires, which
were damaging the enemy aircraft. Two hits were reported and the tail unit was
blown off. The enemy aircraft crashed, with four crewmen bailing out. One, who
was wounded, was captured, and taken to … [can’t make it out].
On a bomb line
patrol by six Spitfires of 43 Squadron between 12:40 and 13:55 a Ju 88 was
reported. The enemy aircraft was attacked by all six Spitfires, and one Ju 88
was claimed destroyed by the squadron.
After lunch 1
SAAF Squadron pilots at Palata spotted a high vapour trail moving south, and
then turning east. Two pilots scrambled, and one of them caught it at 30,000
feet, where it was receiving a fair amount of anti-aircraft fire. He got to
within two miles when it dived away. M.O.R.U. later reported that the Me 210
was destroyed by 145 Squadron pilots.
In the early
afternoon the 307th FS/31st FG had a high harbour patrol aloft, and confirmed a
Ju 88 shot down in flames by the RAF’s 324 Wing.
At 14:10 an Me
410 of 2.(F)/122 was shot up by fighters and finished off by anti-aircraft
fire, and belly-landed in the shallows of the River Sangro, H.3595. The
aircraft had been on strategical reconnaissance. The two crewmen were taken
prisoner.
An Me 410 of
2.(F)/122 was lost in the area of Foggia-Bari-Termoli, probably due to enemy
fighters, with the two crewmen posted missing.
A Ju 88 T-1 of
1.(F)/123 was lost in the Naples area, cause unknown, on a mission. Two of the
crew were killed, and one was posted missing.
A Ju 88 T-1 from
1.(F)/123 was shot down by enemy fighters at Naples, with the four members of
the crew posted missing.
27 November
1943
At 07:15 Me 410
W.Nr 102 596 ‘F6 + OK’ of 2.(F)/122 had taken off from Perugia for a
photographic reconnaissance mission, carrying no bombs. After take off it flew
westwards across Italy in ten-tenths cloud, and then turned south over the sea,
navigating by D/R until over the estimated position of Naples. While on a
north-west course at 270 km/h at 30,000 feet a fault developed in the petrol
system, so he made a wheels down landing at the nearest airfield at 11:00,
which, to his great surprise, was Montecorvino. The crew was taken prisoner.
An Me 410 of
2.(F)/122 was lost at Naples, cause unknown, on a mission, with the crew
reported as missing.
1-3 December
1943
From 1 to 3
December 2.(F)/33 determinedly shadowed two eastbound convoys, but no
anti-shipping attacks developed as a result.
3 December
1943
A Ju 88 D-1 of Wekusta 26 was lost in a forced landing
on the sea at Ancona during an operational flight.
4 December
1943
An Me 410 of
2.(F)/122 was lost to enemy fighters at Bari, with the two crewmen posted
missing.
At 11:44 an aircraft
of 2.(F)/122 sent an S.O.S., but was not heard again by Allied Y Service.
7 December
1943
At an unknown
time 1/Lt. James Otey Tyler of the 4th FS/52nd FG claimed an Me 210 shot down
off Corsica.
12 December
1943
A Ju 88 A-4 of Wekusta 26 suffered ten per cent damage
in a crash landing at Perugia airfield due to pilot error after a mission.
An aircraft of
1.(F)/123 was heard to call unsuccessfully by the Allied Y Service from 07:17
to 10:04.
14 December
1943
Lt. Leonard H.
Emery of the 308th FS/31st FG claimed a Ju 88 damaged from 12:05 to 13:55 at
the mouth of the Tiber River.
16 December
1943
An Me 410 of
2.(F)/122 suffered 25 per cent damage in a crash on landing at Perugia airfield
after a mission.
21 December
1943
A Ju 88 D-1 of
2.(F)/122 was lost on a mission at Adria [Adriatic Sea?], cause unknown.
22 December
1943
A Ju 88 D-1 of
1.(F)/123 was lost on a mission to Sardinia and Corsica, with the four-man crew
posted missing.
‘4U + UH’ of
1.(F)/123 was called unsuccessfully from 09:14 to 17:15.
24 December
1943
Two 66th FS/… FG pilots shared in the
destruction of a Ju 88 fifteen miles south-west of Sibenik on a mission from
10:05 to 12:25.
At 09:30 an
aircraft of 1.(F)/123 reported fighters, and was called until 11:38 without
success.
A Ju 88 D-1 of
1.(F)/123 was lost at the Adria [Adriatic Sea?], probably due to enemy fighters, and the crew
was posted missing.
An aircraft of
Westa 26 reported fighters at 20:18, and was called unsuccessfully until 00:40
on the 25th.
A Ju 88 D-1 of Wekusta 26 was lost at an unknown
location, probably due to enemy fighters, with the crew all posted missing.
26 December
1943
A Ju 88 D-1 of Wekusta 26 was lost in the Adria [Adriatic Sea?], cause
unknown, with the four-man crew posted missing.
28 December
1943
Between 14:15
and 14:30 1/Lt. Terrell E. Yon of the 5th FS/52nd FG claimed an Me 210 or Me
410 destroyed between Elba and the mainland.
An Me 410 of
2.(F)/122 was shot down by fighters off the island of Elba, with the radio
operator killed and the pilot wounded.
‘F6 + RK’ of
2.(F)/122 was lost on this day, with no news at Safety Service stations up to
17:30.
6 January
1944
At an unrecorded
time 1/Lt. Elmer G. Boney of the 2nd FS/52nd FG claimed a Ju 88 destroyed ten
miles south-west of Ajaccio.
One FW 190 of
F.A.Gr. 122 was shot down.
8 January
1944
At 10:10 Me 410
‘F6 + PK’ of 2.(F)/122 took off from Perugia to fly photographic reconnaissance
of shipping off the east coast of Italy, and was brought down at Castiglione at
11:00. It had been flying at 27,000 feet in a south-easterly direction when it
was attacked and shot down by a Spitfire. The pilot, Fw. Helmut Atzler, was killed, and the wireless operator, Uffz. Willi Ehrhard, was taken prisoner.
It was to check
shipping in the Adriatic and along the eastern coast. Supply ships approaching
the coast were to be reported immediately by radio. At 10:50, while flying at
around 28,000 feet, it was suddenly attacked by a Spitfire out of the sun, with
both engines put out of action. The pilot tried to land in the wooded
mountainous region near Castiglione/Marsa Marino, but hit the tops of some
trees. The pilot was killed and the wireless operator crawled out and gave
himself up to British troops.
14 January
1944
At 12:45 a Ju 88
A-4 of 1.(F)/123 took off from Perugia to fly photographic reconnaissance of
Italian airfields within Allied lines. It was downed near Mignano at 14:28. The
aircraft had finished its mission when it was attacked by Allied fighters while
returning to base at around 25,000 feet on a north-westerly course. The crew
bailed out, and the aircraft crashed and exploded. Uffz. Bruno Ruch was the pilot, and all four were wounded and taken
prisoner.
Bibliography
Primary
Sources
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ADM 53/117902
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AIR 23/6508
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AIR 40/2253
NA
AIR 40/2415
NA
AIR 40/2416
NA
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NA
HW 5
NA
WO 169/10018
BA-MA
RL 2 II/303
BA-MA
RL 2 II/956
NARA
RG 18, Box 2270
Genst.Gen.Qu.6.Abt.
Luftwaffe Victory Claims
Microfilms
Secondary
Sources
Kucera,
Dennis C. In a Now Forgotten Sky – The
31st Fighter Group in WW2, Flying Machines Press, Stratford, 1997.
Luce,
Steve W. The 86th Fighter Group in World
War II: Have Guns (and Bombs) Will Travel, Eagle Editions, Hamilton, 2007.
Olynyk,
Frank J. Victory List No. 6: USAAF
(Mediterranean Theater) Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft in
Air-to-Air Combat of World War 2, self-published, Aurora, 1987.
Saunders,
Andy No 43 ‘Fighting Cocks’ Squadron,
Osprey Publishing, Botley, 2003.
#
[1]Relating to the loss of Ju 88 D-1 W.Nr.
430854, 8H+IL of the 3.(F)/33 on 5 September 1943. The crew consisted of Uffz.
Hermann Müller, Uffz. Heinz Stolte, Uffz. Josef Lisinski and Georg Kalbling and
their scheduled mission a shipping reconnaissance of the Oran – Phillippville
convoy route. Their reconnaissance flight pattern required the aircraft to be
flown on a zig-zag course at low-level and while executing a turn at the end of
one leg the aircraft touched the water shattering the propeller blades and
leaving Müller no option but to ditch the crippled aircraft. After spending a
few days adrift in their dinghy, the crew were rescued by an Allied launch and
made P/Ws. For Müller & Stolte it had been their first operational sortie
with the Staffel.
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