[Mark R.]

From my sources - 1st Fighter Group operations Journal entry for 4 Feb 43 which clarifies the events described in FOT...........

1st ENTRY - "Seventeen P-38s, nine of the 94th Sq, Capt Rimke and Roberts and Lts Reese, Starbuck, Crane, Petersen, Mathews, Boose, and Froehling and eight of the 27th Sq, Lts Stemen, Mendenall, Szaflarski, Dowd, Sullivan, Slater, Wolford, and Linn up base 1320 hours to escort B-17s of the 97th and 301st Bomb Groups on a mission to the Gabes airdrome. Five P-38s turned back early due to mechanical troubles, down by 1505 hours. Formation over target 1430 hours, bombers at 20,000 feet and P-38s at 22,000 feet. Bombers scattered making it difficult for fighters to provide protection. Results of bombing unobserved. Heavy flak of medium intensity encountered over target. South and West of target observed slight overcast, CAVU at target. Ten enemy fighters were in the vicinity of the bombers over the target but only one made an attack. One B-17 was observed to crash and burn at approximately 34 degrees, 10 minutes north and 9 degrees, 50 minutes east. Five chutes were seen to open. Several enemy planes were observed near the descending chutes but were driven away by P-38s. 12 P-38s down base 1600 hours.

2d ENTRY - [A Second formation from a second airbase also provided escort for the B-17s mentioned above]

"Ten P-38s, Major Ruddel and Lts Hoyer, Morhous, Beeson, Morefield, Rivers, Rethman, Melbraaten, Wiseman and Brittin up from air base at 1235 hours to escort 21 B-17s to target, airdrome and landing ground at Gabes. Eight P-38s down 1500 - 1700 at base, one of which crashlanded. This aircraft had been damaged by machinegun fire and cannon fire, combat taking place about 20 miles southwest of Gabes in an encounter with Me-109G's. One P-38 down Biskra 1630 hours, crashlanding. This aircraft damaged by machinegun and cannon fire. One P-38 missing 1800 hours. Route, Biskra to Gabes. Altitude at target 23,500 feet. Time over target 1430 hours. Thin layer of clouds 25,000 feet, good visibility. Heavy flak, light intensity, not accurate as to height encountered in the target area. Saw about 10 enemy aircraft, large ships, probably Ju-52s, at airdrome 5 miles southwest of Gabes. This drome bombed by B-17s, results unobserved. At 1426 hours, 8 to 10 Me-109Gs and Fw-190s observed taking off from landing ground at Bjid Toul [Borj Toual?] about 10 miles south of Gabes. No buildings or runways on this field. Combat - Major Rudell fired four bursts at Me-109G's, results unobserved. On leaving target, 97th Bomb Group headed 15 to 20 miles south of Gabes before making slow turn to right. 301st Bomb Group turned right shortly after leaving target. This placed two bomb formations about 20 miles apart. Major Rudell kept fighter formation between the bomber formation to cover. Led flight to cover one B-17 of the 301st Bomb Group which turned left from main formation and spiraled down. Saw six parachutes open near El Ksar and El Hamma. Bomber and fighter formation attacked by 8 to 10 Me-109G's and FW-190's, altitude 1,000 to 23,000 feet from target area to 50 miles west of Gabes. Lt. Morefield fired three bursts, results unobserved. Saw large column of smoke in Djebel Tabaga. Lt Rivers fired two bursts at Me-109G. Saw black smoke pour from the engine of the a/c. Claim one Me-109 damaged. Lt Wiseman fired two bursts, 200 to 100 yards at Fw-190 in head on attack. Observed hits in engine and bottom of fuselage in wing area below cockpit and the Fw-190 burst into flames. Lt. Brittin, flying his wing, observed FW-190 dive in flames. Time 1440 hours. Altitude 22,000 feet. Another B-17 observed spiralling down in vicinity of El Ksar. One P-38 missing, last seen at 1505 hours about 30 miles northwest of Gabes by Lt Rethman on whose wing he was flying. No enemy ground of naval forces observed. Claim one FW-190 destroyed by 2d Lt Lee V. Wiseman, age 21, of Rural Route #4, Grand Rapids, Michigan and 1 Me-109G damaged by 2nd Lt Walter J. Rivers, of 1123 Broadway, Paducah, Kentucky.

Addendum: Lt Melbraaten reported missing 4 Feb has been reported safe at Biskra. Crash landed 75 miles of Biskra and was uninjured.

Note Captain Rimke did not mention engaging an enemy aircraft. And none of the 1st Fighter Group aircraft were shot down. Two B-17s were indeed downed in the vicinity of the target.

The 82d FG aircraft lost that day were not part of the escort. They were escorting B-26s to bomb Borj Toual [Bjid Toul] landing ground 17 miles SW of Gabes. Two 97th Squadron aircraft (Lts Grady and Doddridge) were lost to FW-190s. Steve Blake, author of Adorimini: A History of the 82d Fighter Group, surmises they were both downed by Kurt Buhligen.