ANR 30 April, 44

[jcsancho]

I'm searching for P-38 accounts of combat on 30 April, 44. So far I've gathered the following information:

82nd FG - flew escort to Allessandria MY - Major Phillips 95 fighter squadron indicated the mission was completely uneventful.

1st FG - also few escort to Allessandria MY (B-24s 49th BW)

14 FG - flew escort to Milan - saw a few E/A however did not indicate any combat. Major Forrest Barker was lost, but this seems to be due to an accident.

Which group did Gruppo Caccia engage for the following claims? I believe it's the 1st FG but I have not been able to find any definitive information. Or possible one squadron of another group.

30.04.44 Hptm. Pio Tomaselli 3./JGr. Italien P-38  S.E. Forli: 9.000 m. 11.13 Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.2

30.04.44 Ofw. Domenico Lajolo 1./JGr. Italien P-38  Raum Forli-Ravenna: 9.000 m. 11.10 Film C. 2027/I OKL matter

30.04.44 Major Adriano Visconti: 10 Stab I./JGr. Italien P-38  Forli: 9.000 m. 11.10 Film C. 2027/I OKL matter

[veltro]

This is one of the examples of combats which (unless some strange mistaken e/a identification) apparently have no correspondent among the possible USAAF units involved.

One (only partial) solution would be to write to firstfighter@comcast.net and ask for a copy of the DORs (Daily Operation Report) of the 1st FG Squadrons for the mission of that 30 April 1944.

It is strange though that the Luftwaffe on the same day (and possibly same mission of the ANR fighters, as timings and locations seems to coincide) claimed three B-17s and one is probably the B-17 of 99th BG (MACR 4610), lost in the area of the claimed combats and about which one eyewitness, although reporting that it could have been shot down by flak, reported not to have been able to follow its chute because "attacked by enemy fighters"...

Clearly those P-38 claims most probably were unconfirmed ones, but - as an example -I generally beware of reports of lost planes like the one of Maj. Barker whose destiny was not witnessed by anyone and attributed to "mechanical reasons" (it cannot be excluded he was shot down while he was on his own, IMHO).

There are lots of "grey areas" (overclaiming, assuming wrong things, etc) when searching for specific reports and claims, particularly about air combats and this is no exception, unfortunately, as several early ANR combats are concened.

[jcsancho]

Thanks for you insight on 30 April, 1944 and suggestion regarding the email. There is also a 1st FG book that I have not purchased, which may contain valuable information on the days operations. Your expertise is greatly appreciated. I have come to the same conclusion regarding information as suggested in my first post.

"There are lots of "grey areas" (overclaiming, assuming wrong things, etc) when searching for specific reports and claims, particularly about air combats and this is no exception, unfortunately, as several early ANR combats are concerned."

I have information for the rest of 1944 to post. However, I am going through various sources and this forum prior to posting on the site/web.

Jim

[veltro]

Originally Posted by jcsancho

(...)There is also a 1st FG book that I have not purchased, which may contain valuable information on the days operations.(...)

I have it ("An escort of P-38") but there isn't a single word about the mission of April 30th, 1944. I guess we may conclude it was uneventful...

On that day, the B-17 mission against Milan was escorted by the 31st FG but there too there was no e/a sighted.

Just to add some more data...

[Nick Beale]

I have two relevant messages from Ultra but of course they don't give the Allied perspective. Extracts attached:

[veltro]

Always precious info, my friend...!

This at least confirms the six claims...

[jcsancho]

Excellent, thanks Ferdinando and Nick for your collaboration and information regarding 4/30/44. I'll post the relevant information.

Jim
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