Quote:
Originally Posted by mayfair35
Nick Beale: You mentioned the Luftwaffe had no day fighters in Italy after first days of Sept 1944. Are you sure that is correct? I ask because I was just reviewing our 325th FG records after I left (Feb.1945) and I noted that on April 19th, Lt. Gertin encountered a FW-190 who made a pass at him. Gertin followed him to Verona A/D and when the 190 attempted to land, Gertin shot him down.
|
I know the story and it's covered in two books I've written. IF Gertin identified the aircraft correctly, it probably belonged to 1./NSG 9, then based at Villafranca di Verona (night ground attack), or to Stab NAG 11 (day tactical reconnaissance).
I've not found a source for this action from the German side, although that is much harder this late in the war.
Quote:
On that same day while escorting B-25s to Ora Diversion Bridge, Italy our group ran into Me-109s and claimed 6 destroyed and 1 damaged. We always thought they were from the Po valley and did not realize there were no fighter aircraft there. I think John Voll also claimed that he ran into 20 Me-109s over the Po Valley and shot down 4 of them while he did a "falling leaf" maneuver. I believe that was also after Sept but I do not have those records. Do you have any idea where the above fighters were based and how often did they fly into Northern Italy during 1945? It seems to me we were wasting our resources escorting bombers to Northern Italy if there was no opposition?
Cordially, Art Fiedler
|
The 109s attacking the B-25s were Italian (although their operational controller was a German colonel). At the time they were based at Malpensa and Lonate near Milan and at Aviano in north east Italy.
Voll's action (16 November 1944) can't be reconciled with any known losses on the Axis side - nor with any known operation with a 12-strong formation of Bf 109s and Fw 190s. Voll reported that the combat took place over the northern Adriatic and began with him chasing a Ju 88 (of which there were 2 or 3 in Italy then but operating by night exclusively). There were recon Bf 109s and Fw 190s based in NE Italy but every operation I've ever traced by them involved either 2 or 3 machines. The Italian 109s were in action that day but somewhat later than the time Voll gave.