[CENTURION]

Hello,

John, Alex, thank you for your replies.

It seems that the three pilots died in action over Sicily.
Indeed, according to "http://www.findagrave.com", on the grave of William Cecil Kittinger it's written "fighter pilot, killed in Sicily" while in the one of John T. Blanks Jr. it's written "2 Lieut. 60 AAF fighter sq." - and the latter was killed in action over Sicily and buried in the temporary American GELA Cemetery.

I don't think that the claims of the 8/JG77 are related to the loss of these pilots.

Indeed, in August 1943 the III/JG77 was based at Chilivani in defense of Sardinia.
Moreover, in Prien's latest book "Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe Teil 11 Teilband II 1934-1945" these claims do not appear and I don't find any other German claim for the day of 14 August 1943.

The only claims that I have for that date are those of 16 Macchi of the "4° Stormo Caccia" that claimed 6 Spitfire near Milazzo. Were they in combat with the 33th Fighter Group?
Best regards.

Marco