S/Sgt James T. Smith Jr. - L-4 pilot Italy - KIA 24 Nov 1943

[Leendert]

On 24 Nov 1943 an L-4 Cub of the US 10th Field Artillery Battalion (3rd Inf Div) collided with a Bf-109 near Pietramelara, Italy. This is some 70 km north of Naples near Caserta.
L-4 crashed, killing pilot S/Sgt. James T. Smith (ASN 33189690), buried at Sicily-Rome American Cemetery.

In the May 1944 issue of The Field Artillery Journal (p. 277) it says:

"While a technician was working on his plane's radio S/Sgt.
James T. Smith, Jr., was suddenly confronted by an Me-109
which came around a mountain at very low altitude and opened
fire. Sgt. Smith flipped his plane over to dive and one wing of
the enemy fighter smashed through a wing of the Cub. Neither
American survived the crash."

Two questions emerge: who was the technician and is there a Luftwaffe claim or loss/damage that points to this incident?

All info welcome, thanks.

Regards,
Leendert

[Alex Smart]

A quick look at "Tony Woods" Mediterranean claims revealed nothing of an L-4 claim.
However in the Reichwestaugdec document there is a claim.
Date of claim 25th November 44.
Ltn. Herbert ROLLWAGE - 5/JG 53.
Could this be the one ?

[focusfocus]

No mention of these facts in MAW (vol.4)...so??

No german claims that day (JG53,JG77,SG4)

The claim of Rollwage is "Haguenau" France and 1944.
michel

[Leendert]

L-4 loss likely not in MAW because army and not (an) air force.

Leendert