Luftwaffe losses Corfu 1943
 

Hello guys,

I am trying to find out what was exactly the situation with the following losses of german airplanes that took place during the operations against Corfu between 24 and 26 September 1943.

Through archives of the Italian Co-belligerant Air Force and the Luftwaffe, we have the following list:

24/09/1943: In the morning (around 11:00) one Reggiane 2002 with pilot Maggiore Marino Zaffagnini claims two Ju-87D shot down, one near the city of Corfu and the second (after pursuit) near Ioannina. Any info about this?

24/09/1943: FF. Lt. Raspe (2.NAGr2) is reported having been shot down in the sea between the greek coast and Corfu, in the afternoon (around 20:00). No Italian flights took place over the area during that afternoon. The last italian action for that day was on 16:30 with two MC.202 but the pilots did not make contact with enemy planes. What was the fate of Raspe? Did he crash due to antiaircraft fire?

24/09/1943: General Lusignani (the commander of Corfu) in a message sent to the HQ in Italy makes a statement that three enemy a/c crashed that day. If we add the above claims it is indeed three. Any thoughts?

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25/09/1943: Around 09:50 two MC.205 flying above the area of South Corfu make contact with three Arado's and two Bf-109 and they attack the latest, claiming one down in the sea with the pilot jumping with the parachute and being collected by one Arado. No relevant enlisted loss in Prien's book that could be close to this one. Any thoughts?

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26/09/1943: Uffz Heinz Keller (11.JG/27) crashes while attempting a force landing very close to the airfield of Paramythia and gets killed. Prien states that no enemy action was the cause to the crash. Indeed, that day Corfu fell to the Germans and no italian a/c was flying over the area. In addition there could not have been for antiaircraft fire as the Italians on Corfu ceased operations. What could be the cause?

Any information or any additions to the operations and the above would be of great help.

Thank you in advance,

Themis

Re: Luftwaffe losses Corfu 1943
 

Hi,

The German daily operations report confirms that on 25 September 1943 a Bf 109 of J.G. 27 was shot down by Italian fighters in the Corfu area, with the pilot rescued. However, the German loss list does not record this incident.

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com

Re: Luftwaffe losses Corfu 1943
 

Thank you very much Andrew. So the claim is confirmed.

I wonder if Zaffagnini (who chased the stukas alone) really saw that they crashed, especially the one over Ioannina.

Raspe could have crashed due to A/A fire.

Themis

Re: Luftwaffe losses Corfu 1943
 

German diaries, also, confirm one loss of a Ju-87D of 3./StG3 9Km southwest of Corfu town on 24 September 1943, with two crewmembers killed. Any information about this crash (names of crew, cause of loss)?