[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thanks Brian,

Here is what is written in "Fighters over Tunisia" for 27 March (just the part about He 111 off North Africa):

" During the day Hurricanes of 87 Squadron and Spitfires of 43 Squadron flew many patrols over a convoy code-named 'Untrue', meeting Axis bombers on repeated occasions throughout the day. FO Thompson and FO Johnson of 87 Squadron on one patrol at 0900 met two He 111s of II/KG 26 about ten minutes apart. Both bombers were flying at sea level, and the Hurricane pilots shot down one each in the Cap Takouch area, one being seen by pilots of 242 Squadron to crash into the sea on fire; the crew of one bomber was later taken prisoner.
Two Spitfires of 43 Squadron scrambled at 0945 as the convoy reported that more than six He 111s were attacking. One of these was intercepted and attacked by FO Torrance without result, He and FO Turkington then attacked another, again without result, and Torrance attacked a third, seeing hits on the fuselage. Turkington then came out of some clouds to see three more bombers, and attacked until his ammunition ran out, inflicting damage on one."
(continued with the SM 79 action)

On March 26 there is nothing about a loss by KG 26, but the text on this day in my version is mostly about the fighter-bomber support for the 8th Army offensive and, for example, there is nothing about the Ju 88 claimed by a 82nd FG pilot on this date. Shores reported the following about German bomber losses:

"During the day III/KG 77 reported the loss of four Ju 88s; one crew was killed, a second taken prisoner, while the other two were missing. In one of the latter pair, the pilot was Hpt. Konrad Heydenreich, Staffelkapitän of 9/KG 77. II/KG 30 lost another Ju 88, this one over Algiers."

By the way he then describe on the 27th a battle between 145 Sqn and Ju 88s, two of the latter being shot down and three damaged, and said "It is possible that these bombers were the aircraft of III/KG 77, reported missing the previous day."

Best regards, and seasonal greetings

Laurent