Massive Ju 52 (TG 1) on Juli 25. 1943

[cbe2009]

Hello!
On the above date a lot of Ju 52 aeroplanes were lost in the Gulf of San Eufémia, Sicily. I have a picture of one of the crew, who fell that day together with the Gruppenkommandeur (Major Ernst Mäss ?)

What happened that day?

Thanks in advance
Christian

[shooshoobaby]

Christian - unable to find any account of this for this day. The largest 1 day Ju 52 losses occured April 17th , 43. 9th AF Fighters from the 57th FG and 324th FG and British Spitfires from 92 Sq. attacked 90 Ju 52s and fighter escorts off the Coast of Tunis. 60 Ju 52s were shot down , 17 damaged , 16 fighters shot down , 11 damaged. This engagement known as " Palm Sunday Massacre ". During the 1st 2 weeks of April , 78 Ju 52's were shot down.
Mike

[Gianandrea Bussi]

From: "Spitfire over Sicily" by Brian Cull, pagg.172-173; the JG 77 history teil 3 pag. 1671 by Jochen Prien and II./JG 27 history pag. by Prien/Rodeike/Stemmer. On that morning 33 Spitfire of 322th Wing (152, 242, 81 Sq.) intercepted a Ju.52 formation escorted by 12 Bf.109 (I./JG 77 and II./JG 27) and some C.202 from 161° Gruppo CT.
The english claimed 28 destroyed (21 Ju.52 and 7 fighters) for the loss of one Spit.
All the Ju. were shot down, plus four Bf.109G-6 from I./JG77 and one from
II./JG 27 (who suffered three other losses that day -two from flak - that could be related to the same action). German claimed two Spitfire.
I don't know italian eventual claim/losses.

[Gianandrea Bussi]

...the Ju.52 formation was made by ten planes.

Gianandrea

[cbe2009]

I have been out for a while, therefore the delay in responding!
Thank You very much for Your help
All the best
Christian