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Re: 92 and 243 Squadron experts needed!
Hi!
Yes, my family came from Glarus, Switzerland around 1880īs. Wilhelm is Swiss born, so we are linked, although in a very distant way, by the same linkage.
Someone answered me on the Luftwaffe forum that JG 77 escorted some Ju 87s on a bombing mission that day ( I do not know if on an early mission as you posted 07-09hs ). It seems that it was around midday.
A claim was submitted by .8/JG 77 at 11:38hs and, the leader of the Schwarm + two other pilots that flew with Wilhelm claimed Spitfires also.
What I found is that F/L James Elmslie Walker ( later DFC** - J.3199 - a Canadian in the RAF ) of 243 Squadron shot down a Ju 87 that day. W/C Evan Mackie, DSO, DFC may have flown that day ( I say may have, because he did not claimed on the 11th April, although he did on the 10th - a Bf 109 around Medjez ).
I have tried to discover some USAF 31 FG and 52 FG claims for that period, but have no such good luck! I know they flew Spitfires over Tunisia and had several aces too, but, so far...
I tried to obtain more info about P/O Frank Malan, but got only his service number; nothing more...
Please, could you inform me if other pilots of 72 Squadron also claimed victims that day? What the name of the leader of the patrol? Which was Frank Malan aircraft? Did he got other victories during the war, or did he become a war casualtie?
Thanks a lot for your help...I feel I am close to discover the identity of Wilhelmīs victor.
Adriano Baumgartner
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