Horbie 43 Sqn

[keith A]

Claimed 2 victories (Fw190) flying Spitfire Vc on 16 September 1943. Which LW unit encountered 43 on this date?

[Brian]

Hi Keith

Who is Horbie? I don't have any information on him.

Cheers
Brian

[Artur PK]

Who is Horbie?

S/Ldr Eugeniusz Horbaczewski - at that time commander of 43. Squadron...

[keith A]

Sorry Brian, as Artur says he was commander of 43 Sqn from August until October 1943. He had joined the unit via Skalski's Circus, 145 Sqn and (possibly) 601 Sqn. "Dziubek" or "Horbie" Horbaczewski was a Polish pilot and had 9 kills before this combat. He would eventually claim 17 (one shared) before his death in 1944.

[Bruce Lander]

Hi

S/Ldr Horbaczewski claimed 2-Fw.190's near Campagna on 19 Sep 1943
( F/Lt R.Rayner also of 43 Sq claimed a Fw.190 as well ).
The only Luftwaffe losses i have for that day are:-

Hpt.Von Wedel - Kommodore of SKG.10 shot down by Spitfire (Fw.190) near Salerno
Uffz.Gaus - 1/JG.77 (Bf.109) -Location ?
Uffz.Daum - 1/JG.77 (Bf.109)- Location ?

72 Sq RAF also claimed 3 - Fw.190's near Montecorvino !
Hope this helps

Bruce Lander

[Bruce Lander]

Hi again
Sorry got date wrong I noted 19 Sep instead of 16 Sep 1943
-Finger trouble -
Cheers
Bruce Lander

[VoyTech]

Bruce, he wasn't flying a Mk Vc on 16 September - it was Mk VIII JF571 FT-13.
Also, is "Horbie" based on a written source? I have seen his nickname spelled "Horby".

[keith A]

Horby/Horbie - does it really matter? I have it spelled both ways (sometimes in the same article). Horby seems to be the "correct" spelling.

I didn't know 43 Squadron had any Spitfire VIII in September 1943. My sources indicate they were flying a combination of Spitfire Vc and Spitfire IX until January 1944 and didn't receive the Spitfire VIII until August 1944.

I have him claiming his victories on 16 September 1943 flying Spitfire Vc FT-G MA345.

As for the Fw190, could they have been Italian Macchi 200 or Reggaines? I can't believe 72 and 43 Squadrons misidentified Bf109s.

[robert]

Hi,

Uffz.Rolf Daum 3/JG77 air combat with Spitfires and P-38 30 km east of Salerno Bf109G-6 W.Nr.18 668 yellow 6
Uffz.Karl Hauer 3/JG77 same as above, E of Salerno Bf109G-6 W.Nr.18179 yellow 2
Between 17.45 and 18.50 hours 13 Bf109G therein 10 from the I/JG77 escorted some Fw190 from the SKG10, which should attack allied airfield by Salerno. Soon after the bombing attack 4 Spitfire and 10 P-38 attacked German formation. German lost two above-mentioned Bf109G and claimed one Spitfire and one P-38 as shot down.

Regards

Robert

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi,

S.K.G. 10 engaged in combat with Spitfires on a couple of occasions on 16 September 1943, but suffered only one loss, Hptm. von Wedel of II./S.K.G. 10, who was posted missing near Salerno. No other FW 190s were damaged or lost over Italy on this day.

More details will be available when Morten Jessen and I finish our book, The Focke-Wulf FW 190 in the Mediterranean.

Cheers,
Andrew A.