SAAF Spitfire shot down by....

[POLSA230]

On the 6.6.44 Capt Dunkerley SAAF was flying a 40 Squadron South African Airforce Spitfire in Italy.

His sorties details are unknown but his aircraft crashed on the above date and he was badly injured, he subsequently died as a result on the 11.6.44

Via another forum it has been suggested the Spitfire might have been ER863 ot JF451

Capt Dunkerley is buried at the Beach Head Cemetery Anzio. Has any member any documentation that may indicate a claim against a Spitfire on this day, I am trying to find out what I can from this incident.

Thanks to all who read my quest. Regards Colin.

[veltro]

There are no Luftwaffe claims on that date, and a reading of the great book "Eagles Victorious" by Martin & Orpen on the history of the SAAF in the Mediterranean and Italy, helps to discover the truth.

Page 267: "...on the evening of 6 June, 40 Sqn's final mission connected with the paratroopers (a British unit dropped south of Avezzano - my note) had to turn back owing to bad light and heavy cloud. The pilot decided to come down at Nettuno, where a Thunderbolt landed on top of one Spitfire, mortally injuring Capt. R. K. Dunkerley."

Hope this helps.

[POLSA230]

Dear Ferdinando

A big thank you, this has been of great help to me. Are you able to tell me anything of the paratroopers sortie, was it providing air cover for them for instance.

Thank you once more. Colin.

[veltro]

All I can say is that on 3rd June 40 Sqn had the task to establish contact with "...British paratroops dropped South of Avezzano..." No data about which was the unit involved is supplied either by G. A. Shepperd in his "The Italian Campaign 1943-45" and by E. F. Fisher Jr. in "Cassino to the Alps".

The "Eagles Victorious" book reports: "...the first pilot spotted only white ground signals ar Civita d'Antonio (sic - the correct name was Civita d'Antino) and a parachute on a patch of grass, and a second reconnaissance revealed nothing further. When Mustangs dropped six canisters of supplies, 40 Sqn Spitfires remained over the area for an hour but saw no one remove item. Only next day did a pilot on tactical reconnaissance of the Avezzano-Ortucchio-Gioia (dei Marsi) areas see that the canisters had gone. Meeting intense light a/a fire, he had to crash-land near Alvito but was not injured. (...) On 5 June, 40 Sqn's first task was a special mission to locate the paratroopers, and when the pilot spotted smoke rising on a series of puffs from two wood fires about 25 m apart, he made several low passes to identify himself. From Aquino a/f a second effort was made near Capistrello, and in spite of cloud three fires were seen smoking in a series of puffs."

That's it. Nothing else is available, at least from me.

Glad to have been of help.

[POLSA230]

Another thank you from me, this is a great help.

Kind regards Colin.