[Andrew Arthy]

Hello Christian,

Below is an extract from the manuscript of a book I am working on about the II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51, which I hope will answer your question:

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Friday 26 February 1943
At 14:35 there was an attack by four-engined bombers on Cagliari and Elmas. The Sardinian Freya radar picked up the approaching enemy aircraft at 14:28 at a distance of six kilometres. Warning was given to II./J.G. 51 fighters and the anti-aircraft defences at 14:31, and a minute later two Rotten of Bf 109s scrambled. A Boeing Fortress was shot down 50 km west of the island from an altitude of 5,000 m by Ofw. Otto Schultz of 4./J.G. 51 (53rd victory). This was II./J.G. 51’s 1,299th victory. Two other B-17s were claimed damaged by the II./J.G. 51 pilots. Two Bf 109s landed at 15:20, and another landed at 15:28. The other Bf 109 made a forced landing at Cagliari after being shot up, and the pilot, Uffz. Hans Pflüger of 4./J.G. 51, was killed during the landing. Uffz. Pflüger had been flying Bf 109 G-4 W.Nr 10 895, one of the unit’s new aircraft. He had two aerial victories to his name. Some Italian fighters scrambled, but failed to make contact with the enemy.[1]


[1] NA HW 1/1406; Summarische Verluste – Flugzeuge; Aders & Held, Jagdgeschwader 51 Mölders; Shores, Ring & Hess, FOT, p.224

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Cheers,
Andrew A.

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