Italian Co-Belligerent AF combats
 

Hi guys

On 18/9/43, a Co-Belligerent Z506B was shot down by three Arado 196s, probably from Seeaufkl.Gr.196 somewhere over the Aegean. Any ideas on the crews of all four aircraft, and did the Italians survive?

On 26/9/43, a Co-Belligerent Mc205 of 4 Stormo shot down a Bf109 of II/JG27 somewhere over the Aegean. Do we know the Italian pilot's identity?

Cheers
Brian

Re: Italian Co-Belligerent AF combats
 

Brain,

No listing for a II/JG-27 casualty on September 26,1943 in J. Prien's II/JG-27 book.
Closest is Fw, Heinz Keller of 11./JG-27 who was lost on September 26,1943 flying Bf-109G-6 20-242. However, the cause is attributed to a crash landing without any enemy action.

Re: Italian Co-Belligerent AF combats
 

Dear Brian,
maybe I'm wrong, (it is not my main field of interest) but as far as I know the only claim submitted by a co-belligerant Macchi pilot of 4° Stormo for a Bf 109 shot down confirmed, was done by cap. Emanuele Annoni. According with Giovanni Massimello's research the claim was submitted on September the 24th. According with gen. Antonio Duma -4° Stormo's official historian- the claim was submitted on September the 25th over Corfù island.
In both cases the shot down German pilot, is identified as fw. Heinz Keller of JG-27, so it is very interesting what posted by kaki3152.
Now I'm wondering who was the opponent of Annoni and which was his fate.
ciao
Ludovico

Re: Italian Co-Belligerent AF combats
 

Ludovico

What Prien says exactly is " Feindflug, ohne Feindeinwirkung,bei Notlandung,Absturz, 2 km oestlich Paramythia , 100%"

Which I would translate as: " Enemy flight, no enemy action, by Crash landing, crash, 2 km east [of] Paramythia"

Re: Italian Co-Belligerent AF combats
 

Dear kaki3152,
thank you very much for the interesting info.
I really doubt that Annoni ever met Keller as, in Italian sources his combat is described in this way.
"two Macchi C 205V of 9° Gruppo, (cap. Emanuele Annoni and serg.magg. Carlo Verda, both of 96a squadriglia) took off at 8.55 from Brindisi for a protective cruise over Corfù. Over the island they discovered three big barges escorted by three Arado AR 196 flying at low altitude. While climbing to reach a position to attack the seaplanes they discovered also two Me 109Gs that were indirectly escorting the small convoy. The Macchi attacked the Messerschmitts. That attacked by Annoni capsized and the pilot jumped with parachute. Two of the three Arados escaped while the third came down and rescued the shot down German pilot. The Macchi made a single strafe run on the barges and came back to Brindis low on fuel. The Arado on the sea surface was not attacked because it was engaged in a rescue operation".
Clearly this description doesn't fit with a crash-landing close to a Greek landing ground.
Do you have more information for the 24th or 25th of September? Something that could fit the above description?
Regards
Ludovico