Re: Air war over North Africa
Re Fighters Over The Desert and missing losses etc. Chris got access on a time limited basis to the ORB,s and so only read the Form 540 section (the typed summary of the month) and not the 541 Section (listings of each op. ) They are different in numerous cases, e.g. 450 Sqdn for 31 May 42, where the 540 doesnt list any losess whereas the 541 lists the three lost. The SAAF released microfilms of their records in the mid 80's to the PRO, which were rather more detailed, why I dont know, than the previous ones hence the differences. By the way I know who every fight by the expert schwarm of 4 Staffel was with. Lastly there are Intelligence summaries that fill in gaps as well, and Op summaries roughly from June 42 that fill in more gaps. There are no Op summs prior to May 42 surviving in the PRO. One thing an Op summ can do is for 17 June 42 for 260, it lists a claim for a 109 destroyed at 10.45-11.35 by F.Lt McKay. That, as far as I am aware, is the only mention in any records of this at all. Having been on standby for a long while (sorry Chris) I am eagerly awaiting a chance to assist in the upgrade of these books, of which FOTD was the first ever serious book I bought in 1969 or so, and have been hooked since.
Russell
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