[robert]

Hello,

from Prien`s JG53 history book:

10.07.43

08.34-09.35 II/JG53 recce mission, air combat with 4 Spitfires
09.32-10.40 III/JG53 escort for Bf110 to Syracusa
10.15-11.... II/JG53 free hunting with 6 planes over the beachhead by Gela, 5 P-38 s/d one of them by Rollwage at 10.37...
12.30-13.13 II/JG53 free hunting, air combat with 15-20 Spitfires
15.47-16.49 II/JG53 escort for Bf110 over the beachhead area, air combat with 4 Spitfires. Alfred Hammer shot down one of them, which belly-landed on the field and experienced little later engine problems, which forced him to belly-land on the same field.
16.05-17.10 III/JG53 escort for 12 Jabos, which had to attack landing boats, later strafing attacks; in total 16 planes from the JG77 and 4 from the III/JG53 took part in this mission
17.49-18.35 scramble of 19 Bf109s - 13 of the JG77 and six from the II/JG53 - against allied formation consisting from 30 Mitchells and their escort performed by numerous Curtis
19.01-20.00 II/JG53 ecsort for Bf110 from the II/ZG1 over the beachhead area, air combat with 15 Spitfires without losses and successes
19.07-20.00 III/JG53 free hunting. Ofw.Seeger was able to bring down 3 Spitfires
In course of the day the unit lost two wounded in air combat from the 5/JG53 Rollwage and Rinke. Another loss was Bf109 lost also by 5/JG53 in air combat over Sciacca - the pilot was unhurt.
Tomorrow I will check JG77 book.

REgards

Robert