Elba attack September 1943

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi Costiero,

I've been compiling a chronicle covering all air operations over Italy between 3 September 1943 and 21 January 1944, and have checked sources covering the days and weeks before and after 16 September. I still have many hundreds of pages of documents to read through, so perhaps I'll come across more information in the future. However, I have checked most of the relevant HW 5 ULTRA for September 1943.

One source that could be valuable to you is BA-MA RL 2 II/966, 'Einsatzraum Mittelmeer – Atlantik:- Lageberichte Bereich Luftfl. 2 und Luftflottenkdo. Süd/Südost, 29.8.1943-27.9.1943'. This provides daily summaries of all German air operations in the Mediterranean, so if this 16 September 1943 attack was carried out by German aircraft, it will appear there. Unfortunately I only took notes up to 3 September 1943.

The main point is that this mission almost certainly wasn't flown by units of II. Fliegerkorps or the Fliegerführer Sardinien/Korsika, which would be the logical headquarters to carry out an attack on Elba. Perhaps it was flown by Ju 88s under Kampffliegerführer Luftflotte 2, but I've seen no evidence for that (yet).

Sorry I can't be more certain at this point, and as I've said in the past, if I come across something more I'll let you know.

Just in case anyone else might have some sources, this attack occurred around 11:00 on 16 September 1943.

Cheers,
Andrew A.
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