Luftwaffe losses Italy 27 Jan 1944

[Siko54]

Hi folks,

Am just trying to fathom out who shot up Hauptmann Erich Bunge of 5./SG4 who flew out of Viterbo 0815-0905 and recorded in his Flugbuch being badly shot up by a Spitfire.

According to the Mediterranean Air War Vol 4 Rodney Scrase recorded a kill at 0855 of an FW190 also listed in the ORB and Tom Docherty's "Swift into Battle" Vol 2. In Angus Mansfield's book on Rodney Scrase (Spitfire Saga) he includes more detail from the combat report that at 0830 Rodney observed 6 FW190s on the deck, dived on one and fired 3 bursts, before observing the FW190 flying into a gully and breaking up on crashing. According to the Mediterranean Air War no FW190s were lost that day (5 BF109s lost) and the only other British claims for FW190s damaged were in the afternoon.

So, would appear pretty conclusive the Spitfire that shot up Bunge was Scrase? The only area for confusion appears to be the presence of the P40s of the 99th and 58th FS, who were also noted by Scrase in his combat report (although they were well inland). They appear to have submitted claims for 8 FW190 definites, 3 probables and 4 damaged!

Does anyone know of any other FW190 losses on the 27th or was Bunge's severe damage pretty much it? The other option is that the writing in his Flugbuch has been misinterpreted - it is about the worst Suetterlin I have ever seen and I am pathetically grateful to the kind soul who translated a few flights as a favour (thank you), but there is always the possibility it is not 100% correct. I'll add a photo of the Flugbuch comments if anyone is able to help or can pin down if Scrase was the one who shot Bunge up. Thank you all