Hi,
Bf 109 E WNr. 6374 was reported on strength with I./Sch.G. 2 on 24 November 1942. This was the aircraft shot down on 7 December 1942. On that day I./Sch.G. 2 flew a seven-aircraft mission to Haseiat, and the Sirte loss was unrelated to the mission (or, at least, it was not mentioned in the mission report).
Ibbotson was in combat with J.G. 77 in the afternoon when he made his claim, and the German fighter unit recorded no aircraft lost or damaged.
4.(H)/12 was in combat at 07:00, claiming a victory, and that is when Kurt Reiber was shot down by Spitfires and captured at El Agheila. The
Staffel flew a total of six sorties on this day.
Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications -
www.airwarpublications.com/earticles