Allied Claims in Africa, 25.02.43 and 02.03.43

[Adam]

Hopefully someone can provide details of a Spitfire claim against Bf 109s on 1) 25 February 1943 in the vicinity of Bone harbour
2) 2March 1943 in the vicinity of Mateur-Beja


Any details on time, pilots, units, etc would be most appreciated.

thanks
Adam

[Andrew Arthy]

Hey mate,

25 February 1943: four Spitfires of No. 232 Squadron took off for a harbour patrol at Bone at 15:50, but were diverted to Cap Rosa at 10,000 feet. Sgt. Whitling claimed a probable Bf 109 and another damaged. Sgt. Ekbery's Spitfire was badly shot up, and he had to ditch in the sea between Bone and La Calle. W/Cdr. Berry and No. 81 Sqdn were scrambled as the raid approached, with Berry claiming a Bf 109, and S/Ldr. Gray damaging a Bf 109 (Shores, Ring & Hess, FOT, p.220)

NA AIR 26/425 adds: "At 16:15, 6+ 25 miles north-east Cap Rosa. At 16:30 A.A. opened fire over Bone. W/Cdr Berry destroyed 1 M.E. 109 (making 17 1/2 to him), Sgt Whiting 232 Squadron on patrol probably destroyed 1 M.E. 109 and damaged one as well. Sgt. Eckbury 232 Squadron shot down, landed in sea - pilot safe, aircraft Cat. E."

2 March 1943: As you know, Warmbold came down at 17:10. From Shores, Ring & Hess, Fighters Over Tunisia, pp.232-233: No. 72 Sqdn flew a top cover mission at 16:50 covering nine Hurribombers of 225 Squadron attacking tanks and transport north-east of Beja. Six Spitfires of No. 242 and eight of No. 243 were also involved as low cover. Anti-aircraft fire was seen over Beja and four Bf 109s were seen. F/O. Le Cheminant chased one to ground level where it crashed into a hill.

NA AIR 27/624 adds: "F/O. J. Le Cheminant, however, managed to get in some rounds at a Me.109G which he had chased down to the ground. Near Pont du Fahs the e/a whose approx. speed was in the region of 380 m.p.h. (indicated) crashed headlong into a hill."

I've got more on these combats in other files and sources, but hopefully the above is good for a start!


On another note, I've done a draft of the Wüstennotstaffel article and am in the process of re-typing it. It looks pretty good!

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com

[Adam]

Hey mate,

Thanks for the confirmation on the 25 Feb raid in terms of the unit involved. I didn't have pilots (I don't have Shores et al as a source), but will leave it up to your editing as to sources. As for Warmbold, I'm a little under-whelmed by the whole event. Something doesn't add up.

As for the Wüstennotstaffel article, am looking forward to seeing the final draft. Has Claes come on board with profiles?

cheers
Adam

[leal_kerr]

Andrew

Sorry to butt in on this thread.

I'm based in North Queensland also [Townsville in fact]. I wouldn't mind catching up, if possible. Let me know if that's possible.

[John Beaman]

Leal Kerr:

What do you mean by "catching up"? This thread is only three posts long. Can you be a little clearer?