Hi,
Information from the relevant Wing ORB:
Between 12:00 and 13:40 twelve Spitfires of 111 Squadron, led by G/Capt. Gilroy, patrolled the Messina Straits. They claimed numerous victories. G/Capt. Gilroy claimed one Mc. 200 destroyed, Sgt. Eccleston claimed a Mc. 200 destroyed, and shared in the destruction of a Mc. 202. F/O. Young claimed half a Mc. 200 destroyed and one FW 190 destroyed, F/Sgt. Gray destroyed one Mc. 200 and shared in the destruction of another. Sgt. Hall claimed half an Mc. 200 destroyed and a Mc. 200 damaged. F/Lt. Parrett claimed half a Mc. [no variant given] destroyed. F/O. Woolgar claimed half an Mc. 200 destroyed. F/Sgt. Plumridge claimed a Mc. 202 probably destroyed.
From the No. 43 Squadron ORB:
"07:25-09:00: 15 aircraft were on patrol Messina area. When formation was ten miles west of Reggio two Bf 109s were seen by the Spitfire IX section at 25,000 feet approaching from the north east. Enemy aircraft turned north-west and then seeing one aircraft opened fire on them and turned again to the north east diving vertically at a very high speed. Our aircraft gave chase and one of the enemy aircraft was destroyed by S/Ldr. Horbaczewski at 'deck level'. Enemy aircraft crashed near Cittanova."
Horby's victim was almost certainly a 2.(H)/14 Bf 109, one of which was reported lost in combat in the Reggio area.
All the best,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications -
www.airwarpublications.com