3 Squadron RAAF
 

Hello, I am hoping to find the identity of some commonwealth pilots who claimed victories during the Italian campaign. I am sure there is someone on here who can help me:

3 (RAAF) Squadron claimed one E/A in the sicillian campaign and two in Italy (March 1944 and April 1945)

4 (SAAF) Squadron 2 EA in April '44

5 (SAAF) Squadron 2 EA with Kittyhawks and 1 Ju52 flying Mustangs.

These were mentioned in Aces High but it did not mention the identity of the pilots.

Re: 3 Squadron RAAF
 

I don't know if it is part of Italian campaign that you think of, but F/Lt Shannon from No 3 Sqn (RAAF) claimed a Fi 156 on 3rd April 1945 over Slovenia, and Lt Begg from No 5 (SAAF) claimed 2 Ju 52s shot down, the first of which he claimed on 4th November 1944 over Bihac (NW Bosnia & Herzegovina) and another one on 9th November 1944 somewhere between Bosanski Brod and Derventa (N Bosnia & Herzegovina). I cannot offer you more details, because I don't have them sorted on the computer. I think No 3 RAAF Mustangs migh have claimed another Fi 156 over Slovenia in April 1945.

Re: 3 Squadron RAAF
 

Yes it would be I tend to lump all the operations over the Med and the Balkans from 1943 as 'Italy' Thanks for the help!

Re: 3 Squadron RAAF
 

A perfectly understandable approach but it might lead you to miss some material if you're researching the campaign. Balkan Air Force was separate from Desert Air Force (a name it kept for the Italian campaign) which flew ops over Italy, so their records can be in different files.

Both came under MATAF (Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Forces) though and MATAF was part of MAFF (Mediterranean Allied Air Forces)