april 12, 1945: bombing of a German HQ
 

Hello friends, i need the help of the veterans: on april 12, 1945, a flight of twelve P-47 hit the German HQ of the 51st Corps (mountain troops) in Cavriago (map reference L-2573), southwest of Reggio Emilia, north italy.

The attacker has been identified as P-47, but until today i was unable to identify the squadron who did the job. Someone can help me? Thanks in advance

Michele

Re: april 12, 1945: bombing of a German HQ
 

The MATAF daily intelligence/operations summaries in AIR23/6513 at the National Archives in London would probably help you.

Re: april 12, 1945: bombing of a German HQ
 

12th AF P - 47 Groups , 1945
27th , 79th , 86th , 324th , 350th
Mike

Re: april 12, 1945: bombing of a German HQ
 

Thanks guys, i have asked to the AFHRA about the summary, and they told me that need some weeks to find WHAT summary must be checked...

Mick

Re: april 12, 1945: bombing of a German HQ
 

Hello Micky!
I do know that Brazilian´s 1st Fighter Group operated that day, flying P-47D in N of Italy. I am checking some books and papers to give you a positive or negative response in a very near futur. Please wait a couple of days, ok?
Yours
Adriano Baumgartner ( from Brazil )

Re: april 12, 1945: bombing of a German HQ
 

Just to complicate matters, 79th FG was subordinated to Desert Air Force rather than 12th AF.

Re: april 12, 1945: bombing of a German HQ
 

There was also 57th FG flying P-47s. I do not know if they were part of 12th AF or Desert Air Force in 1945. Off the top of my head I believe they were Desert Air Force in 1942; possibly 9th AF later (until it moved to England).

Frank.

Re: april 12, 1945: bombing of a German HQ
 

Uhmm! so, i can exclude 79th FG... i guess.
DAF did only few operations in my area (western Emilia). A pilot from the italian 1st FG told me that Spitfire and other Brit planes was "rare birds" in this area, except from a short period around summer 1944.

Re: april 12, 1945: bombing of a German HQ
 

Dear Micky,

I have checked the only 3 “war diaries” written by former pilots of Brazilian 1st GAVCa “Senta a Pua”. They certainly flew on the 12th April 1945 to the N of Italy ( this is positively correct and checked ); however I can´t find the names of the aircrew involved ( one at least did his first combat mission that day: Aspirante Aviador Reserva Jorge Maia Poucinha – who finished with 16 missions ) neither the location of their target. You probably will have more luck checking 350th Fighter Group ORB´s.
Our 1st Brazilian Fighter Squadron also flew on the 11th and 14th, when they attacked and destroyed a German HQ and Communication Center at VERGATO ( Tried to find out on a map, but had no joy yet…). Could this be the HQ you are looking for?
Unfortunately NONE of this “war memories” does have a chronological war diary, with dates and the names of aircrew involved on ALL missions that were flown by the 1st Brazilian Fighter Group. I will try to find out this for you, but it could take some time.
Meanwhile I will try to find out on the papers a former USAAF MTO P-47D veteran sent me.
Yours very friend and sincerely
Adriano Baumgartner

Re: april 12, 1945: bombing of a German HQ
 

Thanks for your efforts Adriano. Unluckily, Vergato is very far from "our" target, about 20 kms south of Bologna.

Cavriago is 12 kms southwest from Reggio Emilia, i'm checking other fighter-bombers groups, as the 27th!

Thanks again, and good luck

Mick