[Laurent Rizzotti]

According to the summary of Luftwaffe losses:

II/JG 51: 1 a/c destroyed and 1 damaged without enemy action in operational flight.

III/JG 53: 1 a/c shot down and 1 damaged in an air battle, 2 a/c destroyed and 1 damaged without enemy action in operational flight.

II/JG 77: 1 a/c missing due to enemy action, 5 a/c shot down (including two not observed by enemy, meaning damaged beyond repair in forced landings away from the air battle) and 1 damaged in an air battle, 1 a/c destroyed on the ground by strafing

III/JG 77: 1 a/c destroyed without enemy action in operational flight.

II/SG 4: 2 a/c shot down (including one not observed by enemy) and 1 damaged in air battle, 1 a/c shot down by AA fire

"Air War Europa" book says that 52nd FG Spitfire pilots claimed 12 Bf 109s in a running fight over Italy between 1310 and 1355 hrs, and other 12th Air Force fighters pilots dwn six other Luftwaffe fighters during the day.

The official USAAF list shows 11 victories for 52nd FG, 2 for 31st FG, 1 for 79th FG and 1 for 324th FG this day.

So you can't link all German losses to the claims of 52nd FG.

The book "Spitfires and Yellow Tail Mustangs" describes this battle on pages 79, 81 and 82 (80 being an a/c profile). It is said that 2nd FS claimed 4 victories in 3 separate engagements, one of them the Staffelkapitän of 7./JG 53, Oblt Rolf Klippgen, while the low flight of 2th FS strafed Viterbo before being bounced and losing two pilots shot down and captured. 5th FS then engaged the German fighters near the airfield and claimed 8 for 4 losses (3 killed and 1 evader).

From this narrative and the above loss, it is probable that most of the battle saw 5th FS oppose II./JG 77.

By the way the German pilots claimed 10 Spitfires between 1327 hrs and 1405 hrs, not 9. Uffz. Mueller in the Ultra above should be Uffz. Fritz R.G. Müller who claimed3 Spitfires this day for his 9th (1338 hrs), 10th (1341 hrs) and 11th victories (1345 hrs). These hours are those listed in Tony Wood lists, and are one hour later than the Ultra intercept... Maybe someone converted them in one source or the other.

Edited: to add II./SG 4 and victories after reading Nick posts