23rd March 2012, 18:07
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Italy
Posts: 122
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Re: Confused about the 325th FG?
Hello Keith and Andrew,
in late May of 1943 the Italian fighter units in Sardinia were, in the south of the Island:
20° Gruppo Caccia (51° Stormo) at Capoterra airfield – Cagliari with Mc202s and Mc205s
155° Gruppo Caccia (51° Stormo) at Monserrato airfield – Cagliari with Mc202s and Mc205s
In the north of the Island (about 200 Km away):
24° Gruppo Caccia at Venafiorita airfield – Olbia with Mc202s
160° Gruppo Caccia at Venafiorita airfield – Olbia with Re2001s
Therefore, the 325th Fighter Group, that usually raided southern Sardinia, was often engaged by the 51° Stormo.
Quote:
19 May 1943
- 325th FG claims 6-0-0 over Sardinia. Other USAAF units claim 6-3-2 over Sardinia
- Luftwaffe lost one Ju 88 to fighters, one Ju 88 damaged by fighters, possibly one Me 410 to unknown causes on a mission, one Ju 87 by fighters, two Ju 52s by fighters.
- Total: 5 Luftwaffe combat losses, possibly 6
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The Macchi Mc202s/Mc205s of 20° Gruppo claimed 2 P38s for no loss.
Andrew, since the 12 U.S. claims concern fighters, do you know who shot down the Ju88, the Ju87 and the two Ju 52s?
Quote:
20 May 1943
- 325th FG clams 13-1-0 over Sardinia. Other USAAF units claim 9-1-2 over Sardinia
- Luftwaffe lost one Ju 88 to fighters, one Ju 52 to fighters, one Bf 109 to fighters, three Me 323s to fighters
- Total: 6 Luftwaffe combat losses
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28 Mc202s/Mc205s of 51° Stormo claimed 2 P38s and 1 B24 for 2 Macchi lost (Ten. Corrado Corradi KIA - the other pilot bailed out).
(II/JG51 claimed 1 P38 in the same combat but the Americans lost only 2 P40s....)
Quote:
21 May 1943
- 325th FG claims 4-0-2 over Sardinia. Other USAAF units claim 7-4-1 over Sardinia
- Luftwaffe lost one Bf 109 to fighters
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25 Mc202s/Mc205s of 51° Stormo claimed 2 P40s, 1 P38 and 1 B24 for the loss of 1 Macchi (S.Ten. Silvio Gioia shot down at sea - KIA)
Andrew, may I have the data of the Me109 lost on this data?
Quote:
27 May 1943
- 325th FG claims 6-0-0 over Sardinia. No other USAAF claims over Sardinia
- Luftwaffe lost no aircraft in combat over Sardinia
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22 Mc202s/Mc205s of 51° Stormo claimed 1 P38 (but, far as I know, no P38s in combat) for 2 Macchi lost (Cap. Italo D’Amico and Serg. Dante Testera, both KIA)
Quote:
18 June 1943
- 325th FG claims 2-0-1 over Sardinia. Other USAAF units claim 17-3-5 over Sardinia
- Luftwaffe lost one Fi 156 to fighters
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No data for the 51° Stormo.
The 160° Gruppo lost 2 Re2001s in combat but in the North, near Olbia, probably against P38s of 1st and 82nd Fighter Group.
Quote:
24 June 1943
- 325th FG claims 5-0-3 over Sardinia. Other USAAF units claim 16-4-7 over Sardinia
- Luftwaffe lost two Bf 109s in combat
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On this date S. Tenente Giusto Giusti of51° Stormo died, perhaps in combat.
Quote:
28 June 1943
- 325th FG claims 4-1-4 over Sardinia. Other USAAF units claim 7-3-5 over Sardinia
- Luftwaffe lost no aircraft in combat over Sardinia
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No data for the 51° Stormo.
Hope this helps.
Best regards and thanks.
Marco
Source:
Il 51° Stormo Caccia of Nicola Malizia
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