[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hello Nick.

I have checked File AIR 27/625/17 and File AIR 27/625/18. Indeed, F/Sgt Thomas Wilmot Larlee "crash landed" (Cat.II) at 09:50hs, whilst flying EN258. From what is written, it looks like he was hit by cannon fire and "belly landed" at his own base (Naples). It seems that this machine was later repaired and, according to your findings, lost in December.

72 Squadron claimed 4x Bf 109 destroyed; 2x Fw 190 destroyed and 2 Bf 109 damaged.
Strangely, P/O King appear on AIR 27/625/17 to have been credited with one Me 109 destroyed....however his is NOT listed on the roll of pilots who flew the 16th October early sortie on the 16th, on File AIR 27/625/18.

Also strange is the fact that not only Burckhardt claimed a Bf 109, but also a certain Uffz Busch, from 2./JG 77....and there was only one "loss" (one machine damaged) that day, which is EN258.

So...quite an interesting day to dig further. Sadly my PRIEN's JG 53 thrilogy are stored some 300 km away from my actual home...so, I can not check the entry for that day on this magnificent work. I know, so far, of two JG 53 losses...

I will dig out onto the RLM losses at BAMA Files to see what else is related to that particular sortie/mission and day.

Thanks for helping and for the information about EN258.

Adriano