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Originally Posted by robert
Hi,
according to the Prien`s book there was only one combat between II/JG77 and P-40s. II/JG77 should indirectly escort 5 Do 217 during their sweep around the north coast of the Sicily. The Do 217 with their directly escort from I/JG77 were called off (the reason was absence of allied ships in this area) so the II/JG77 was given the task to fly a fighter sweep in Messina and north coast Sicily area. After 50 minutes flying the Germans noticed over the road to Messina the allied Jabos - from 25 to 30 P-40s - and attacked them. Uffz.Loebering claimed 1 P-40 s/d and Lt.Reinert claimed 3 P-40 s/d but was himself s/d over See in Planquadrat 59/7/3/1 east of Milazzo (G-6 W.Nr.20380 100% loss)
The other loss of JG77 on this day was caused by mechanical failure and ended with emergency landing in Vibo-Valentia (G-6 W.Nr.15352 damaged).
The other units:
- IV/JG3 - none losses on this day
- JG53 - two none-combat losses
- II/JG51 - ?
I think that II/JG77 combated with 79 FG which in fact lost one P-40 and two P-40 damaged. Could somebody confirm that?
Regards
Robert
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Thanks Robert. I am fairly certain that the 87th Fighter Squadron was the USAAF unit involved in those combats. However, there were two distinctly separate engagements during the same mission. The squadron was bounced near Messina, and a short time later German fighters appeared again over the Gulf of Milazzo. It seems that planes from JG 77 and the 87th FS engaged, then dispersed, then reassembled, and then attacked each other a second time.
Did Prien say that Reinert's plane exploded in the air?