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10 July 43 SOC vs 109s
A friend of mine has the April 2018 WW II History magazine which has an article sacrifice over Sicily on the clashes between USN SOCs and Bf 109s.
There are only 2 claims for what could be SOCs by JG 53 Rollwage at 1039 and Essen at 1308 both over Gela. Here are the USN losses and times:
USS Savannah
shortly after 0605 take off Lt (jg) Charles A Anderson (P) KIA and Chief Radioman Edward J True (G) forced lands plane into the sea using the emergency controls. Another SOC from this ship lands to pick him up but is wrecked all 3 surviving men are picked up by a US destroyer
the other 2 SOCs from this ship took off at 0827
Lt John G Osborne's was shot down crew rescued
Lt John J Frazier was shot up but made it back
USS Boise
0606 the ship launched its only Kingfisher and 1 SOC they both made it back to the ship okay after being chased by 109s
1222 the remaining SOC took off and was shot up and forced to flee by 109s of JG 53 (Esser claim?)
on the other beach
USS Philadelphia
LCDR Richard D Stephenson and his gunner Aviation radioman Douglas W Pierson were shot down and killed by 2 Bf 109s at 1315 (Esser claim?)
Any other Axis claims this day?
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