16th April 1943 - Mediterranean Spit losses
 

Hello,
I would like to obtain some help to identify the losses of Spitfires claimed by JG 77 on 16th April 1943.
There were 4 claims:
1- Reinert
2- Bär
3- Berres
4- Hossmann
I know that 243 and 92 Squadrons were active and claimed Axis planes that day. Any known losses that matches those German claims?
Yours
Adriano

Re: 16th April 1943 - Mediterranean Spit losses
 

Hello Adriano,

Found the following losses on spitfires.ukf.net with 16-4-1943 and area Tunisia: AB502 (A/C Gleed), ER116, ER502 and ER858. Also one damaged: EP702.

I'm sure other board members can give names of pilots and what squadrons they were in.

Regards,

Leendert

Re: 16th April 1943 - Mediterranean Spit losses
 

Hello Adriano,

according to Fighters over Tunisia by Christopher Shores, the Me-109s of the JG/77 were in combat near Cap Bon at about 15:45 with ten Spitfires
of the 145th Squadron and three Spitfires of the 92nd Squadron which were attacking thirteen Italian SM82s. Two Spitfires of the 145th Squadron failed to return, piloted by Wg. Cdr. Gleed and his wingman, Sgt. J. K. Rostant. Four Italian MC202 of the 151° Gruppo escorting the SM82s were involved in the same combat, and claimed three Spitfires for no loss.


Best of Luck
Marco

Re: 16th April 1943 - Mediterranean Spit losses
 

Hello Leendert and Marco!
Leendert, thanks for pointing to me the losses of Spitfires that day. With the serial numbers I can try to dig out the names, codes and Squadrons involved.
Marco, your information clarified the combat I am researching: JG 77 versus 145 and 92 Squadron. BUT, I do have 1 Bf 109 destroyed and 1 Bf 109 damaged claimed by F/L Evan D "Rosie" Mackie from 243 Squadron on that same day, West of Medjez-El-Bab.
Do you have the names of the Italian pilots from 151 Gruppo that claimed Spitfires that day and the number of SM-82 shot down?
F/L Neville Duke ( 92 Squadron ) claimed 2 SM-82, but I do not know IF other pilots from the same Squadron were involved and claimed as well.
Thanks for helping me and pointing me out to the correct track.
Yours
Adriano Baumgartner

Re: 16th April 1943 - Mediterranean Spit losses
 

On 16 april 1943, following an attack by Spitfire, four S.82 were shot down in the sea (survivors were rescued by the military ship "Libra") and one landed at Tunisi with 2 dead and two wounded.

Gianandrea Bussi

Re: 16th April 1943 - Mediterranean Spit losses
 

Hello Adriano,

Except for Duke, the other two pilots of the 92nd Squadron, F. O. Savege and PO. G. Wilson, were successful in shooting down respectively 2 and 1 SM82.
Claims of the 145th Squadron are:
1 Me109 destroyed by Fl. Lt. Shand
1 Me109 destroyed by PO Small
1 Me109 destroyed by WO McKinnon
2 Ju52 destroyed by FO Laing-Meason
1 SM82 destroyed by F/Sgt. Anderson

The Spitfire of the 145th Squadron attacked 13 SM82s of the 44th and 45th Stormo. In addition to the losses described by Gianandrea Bussi, other three SM82s were forced to land at Soliman.

The 243rd Squadron was in combat about at the same time west of Medjez-El-Bab against Me109 of I/JG53 and shot down one Me109 G-4 flown by Fw. Arno Fisher who force landed south west of Tebourba.

Unfortunately I don't have the claims of the Italian pilots.
I was mislead by one source to write that those pilots were from the 151st Gruppo. They actualy were from the 54th Stormo.

Regarding the losses suffered by the 92nd and 145th Squadrons near Cap Bon that day, there is a discrepancy between the book Fighters over Tunisia (2 losses) and the website mentioned by Leendert (three losses).


Regards
Marco

Re: 16th April 1943 - Mediterranean Spit losses
 

Sorry, I mistake:

just 1 Ju52 destroyed by FO Laing-Meason

Best Regards
Marco

Re: 16th April 1943 - Mediterranean Spit losses
 

Hi.

Seems to be only one JG 77 Bf 109 lost on this date due to enemy inflicted damage.

Regards,
Andreas B

Re: 16th April 1943 - Mediterranean Spit losses
 

Hi Marco and Andreas!
Marco: Fantastic information! Just what I was looking for. Thanks for pointing me out the names of RAF pilots who claimed that day. Just one correction F/O Savege is actually F/O Thomas Wood Savage ( 105167 ) who finished with apparently 4 victories. I still do not know if he was shot down ( I am checking this out right now ).
The information about the Macchis and SM-82 was much welcomed. Thank you so much, Marco!
Andreas, yes, I found one missing in action, but are you sure there are NO more losses for JG 77 on this day?
This is the MIA pilot and plane:
16/04/43 Lt. Rüdiger
Belling 1./JG 77 Bf 109 G-6
(16485)
white 9 Combat with Spitfire,
20 km n.w. of Cap Bon


Yours Adriano ( still searching )

Re: 16th April 1943 - Mediterranean Spit losses
 

Hello! Back with news:
S/L Laing-Meason, DFC ( 103564 ) was killed on 28/10/1944
F/L T W Savage, MID ( 105167 ) was killed on 10th July 1943
W/O Hugh McKinnon ( NZ 411081 ) was killed on 07th May 1943
S/L Ian Harry Robert Shand ( 80102 ) got the DFC as well a DSO on 17th March 1945 while OC of 237 Squadron. Apparently he survived the war. Anybody would have a picture of him? Or a link to him?
Does anybody have the names of the pilots of SPITFIRES shot down? It seems one of the pilots managed to parachute. I do not know if he was made POW or escaped.
Thanks and the researches goes on...
Yours
Adriano