Bf-109 in combat on 22.2.1944

[sergey]

Colleagues.
There is information that at the beginning of the Allied air raid on a German convoy north of Crete on February 22, 1944, four B-25G bombers from the USAAF's 379th Squadron distracted Bf-109 fighters, allowing British Beaufighters to successfully attack the ship "Lisa."
https://57thbombwing.com/379th_History/History14.pdf
However, there is also information that German fighters shot down three attacking Beaufighters from 227 Squadron .
https://aviationarchaeology.gr/wp-co...1941-19464.pdf
Please help me determine how many German aircraft defended the convoy and how they operated.

Sergey

[Chris Goss]

7./JG 27 claimed a Baltimore and two Beaufighters 1225-1324hrs Iraklion/Dis area

[sergey]

And so it was. A Baltimore of No. 454 Squadron RAF (pilot Brian Edward Rawlings) was shot down at 12:25 by Leutnant Hans-Gunnar Kuhlemann of 7./JG. 27, and two Beaufighters were claimed at 13:25 by Leutnant Hans-Joachim Heyessen of 7./JG. 27. The question is how many Bf 109s were over the convoy at the start of the battle and how many repelled the Beaufighters after four departed to pursue the B-25G bombers.

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

See: Alamein To The Alps 454 Squadron RAAF 1941-1945/Mark Lax.

https://www.454-459squadrons.au/diariesandmemoirs Click on PDF Alamein to the Alps, go to pp.119-121 of 271 pdf.

Col.

[sergey]

Col, thank you!