Hi Marc,
There was a combined evening ground-attack operation by III./St.G. 3 (Ju 87s) and III./S.K.G. 10 (FW 190s), escorted by Bf 109s of J.G. 77, against American forces near Gafsa. III./St.G. 3 took off from El Djem at 17:45, and returned to base at 19:40. Six FW 190s of III./S.K.G. 10 took off from La Fauconnerie at 18:15, and landed at 19:05.
Twelve Spitfires of the 2nd FS/52nd FG were on a fighter sweep and reconnaissance mission. The Stuka pilots reported the presence of 40-50 Spitfires, but the FW 190 pilots noted the presence of only sixteen fighters. III./S.K.G. 10 and J.G. 77 reported no losses, but St.G. 3 was not so fortunate. Its lost and damaged aircraft were as follows (the Americans were a little optimistic):
- Ju 87 D-3 WNr. 2985, III./St.G. 3, pilot Oblt. Heinrich Banke wounded, gunner Fw. Hans Ottilinger killed, force-landing, destroyed by own troops, 100% loss
- Ju 87 D-3 WNr. 2996 'S7 + BS', 7./St.G. 3, pilot unhurt, gunner Uffz. Herbert Reisenbauer wounded, 10% damage
- Ju 87 D-3 WNr. 1000, 7./St.G. 3, no personnel wounded, 35% damage
- Ju 87 D-3 WNr. 2048, 7./St.G. 3, pilot Uffz. Paul Bärwald killed, gunner Fw. Martin Falk killed, 100% loss
- Ju 87 D-3 WNr. 1001, 7./St.G. 3, no personnel wounded, 30% damage
- Ju 87 D-3 WNr. 2999, 9./St.G. 3, pilot Lt. Hubert Pölz wounded, gunner Uffz. Sepp Jourez killed, 100% loss
- Ju 87 D-3 WNr. 2949, 9./St.G. 3, pilot Uffz. Helmut Benedix wounded, gunner Uffz. Josef Seidel killed, 100% loss
Erhard Jähnert was one of the 9./St.G. 3 pilots involved in this mission, but surprisingly did not mention it in his memoirs. Pölz, Jähnert and Benedix were still flying with the unit in 1944/1945.
Jagdgeschwader 77 reported two Spitfires shot down, one claimed by Lt. Armin Köhler at 18:51, and the other by Ofw. Heinz Meschke at 18:52. Köhler wrote in his diary:
"
About 18:00 a further Stuka attack is carried out on the positions between El Guettar and Gafsa. It was foolish, flying into the sun, where the Americans had no difficulty in getting the better of us. We lost six Stukas, while Oberleutnant Goedert and Feldwebel Meschke each claimed a Spitfire. I had taken off with Küdorf, Meschke and Leutnant Hemmersdorf. During the take-off Hemmersdorf’s undercarriage struck a barrel and he collided with a Bf 109 of 3. Staffel. Both aircraft burst into flames. Hemmersdorf was killed but Stahl got out alive."
Sources
KTB SKL
NA HW 5
NA HW 13
BA-MA RL 10/361
NARA RG 18 Box 2281
Genst.Gen.Qu.6.Abt. loss list
Luftwaffe victory claims material
Prien, Jagdgeschwader 77
Shores, Ring & Hess, Fighters Over Tunisia
Jähnert, Flugbuch
Olynyk, MTO
Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications -
www.airwarpublications.com/earticles