Elba attack September 1943

[Larry deZeng]

Supplementing Nick's information:

I have a photocopy of 329 Wing's daily "Y" reports for 30 June to 18 August 1943. It's a mixed bag in that for some days it seems to be fairly good but for some days not. IIRC, it was reasonably good for long-range recce and weather aircraft activity and unit identifications, less so for transports, bombers, fighters and ground attack. For example, the 329 Wing Daily Summary of Enemy Air Activity for Period 17/8/43 only gives the following under Para. 2. Long Range Bombers:

4 bomber units combined in a raid on Biserta in the evening. At least 23 aircraft were identified. II/KG 77 based a Piacenza, using Ciampino as an advanced landing ground, contributed 9 aircraft, the remainder coming from I and III/KG 30 and I/LG 1 based at Viterbo. There was one possible casualty of III/KG 30.

Under Para. 3. Fighters and Ground Attack, there are three paragraphs of activity description from the Rome area south to Sicily and including Sardinia. Not a single unit or Lw. airfield is identified. The narrative is very broad and general in content.

L.