[Stig Jarlevik]

Bill/Roland

No Luftwaffe fighter was lost due to collision this day. Of the fighter units both JG 53 and JG 77 claimed B-25s, but only I./JG 53 over the northern coast, Cap Serrat area. One aircraft was lost, as Roland says, and two B-25 were claimed by Fw Fischer. It is not recorded how Fw Holstein escaped but probably via parachute and since he was neither killed, wounded or taken POW he seems to have returned to his unit.

Looking in Fighters over Tunisia, Shores probably relates this combat as a B-25 unit escorted by 25 P-38 from 1 FG, but also states this was in the Cap Bon area which is much further to the east of Cap Serrat. His statements differs a bit from the details Bill gives, since from what I understand, you relate the B-25 claims. Shores states a Fw 190 was claimed by the gunners and that the escort claimed three Macchi 200 shot down. Shores also states that two Italian MC 200 were "among the escort" (which I don't understand since it implies the Italians were escorting something, which in such a case is not stated, unless he generally means unrecorded vessels in the water). One of these Macchis is said to have been damaged. But without knowing exactly what the Italians were up to that day it is impossible to 100% certain.

It will be interesting to see if this date is included in MAW Vol 2 to be published next year or if we have to wait for Vol 3. As we all know Fighters over Tunisia is now 40 years old and loads of new information is available to dedicated researchers. What we do know however is that the Italians did a lot more than was previously thought!

Cheers
Stig