Shared victories, Italy

[Boris Ciglic]

Regarding the 10.10.43. claim, from my Do 17 book:

On 10 October Stfw Đuro Senel (P), Lt Zvonimir Adam (NO), Uffz Šime Jurjević (RO) and Ofw Zlatko Mužić (MG) tried to defect during another recce over Adriatic. However, as they neared Italian coast, their Do 17Z A1+CZ was intercepted by eight Mk.VIII Spitfires of RAF 92.Sqn northwest of isle of Termoli, as described in 92.Sqn Operations Record Book:
"In two fluid parts patrolled at 7000-8000 feet. At 8.30 enemy aircraft spotted at 5 o’clock below flying NE at 5000 over Termoli. Yellow 3 and 4 sent to investigate. On report that it was Do 217 (sic) other followed. F/O F. Wihak (flying Spitfire JF563 – a.c.) closed from 150 yards to 50 yards astern and scored hits on port side (of the fuselage). F/O Marcel J. Fakhry (RAAF, in JF524 – a.c.) fired from 250 yards, but broke off on receiving return fire (from Dornier). F/Lt John H. Nicholls (in JF413 – a.c.) closed to 30 yards and saw pieces fall off starboard side of fuselage. F/Sgt T.E. Brister (JF342 – a.c.) and F/Sgt MacKay (JF567 – a.c.) also fired. Four seen to bail out, but one parachute didn’t open, aircraft crashed some 18 miles north of Pietre Nere Point (some 8 kilometers west of Termoli – a.c.) and sunk."
JF567was shot down by return fire and crashed into the sea, Canadian F/Sgt Lauchlan B. MacKay remains missing to this day. In the meantime the Croat crew had great difficulties to abandon the aircraft, in the end Jurjević managed to break the upper part of the cabin with his back and enabled the others to bail out at a height of some 600 meters. Senel, Mužić and Adam (severely wounded in both legs, subsequently one of them had to be amputated) were picked up by 284.Sqn Walrus W2797crewed byF/Sgt E.J. Holmes and F/Sgt J.R. Berry. Šime Jurjević fell to his death when his parachute failed to open, as observed by 92.Sqn pilots.