Operation Avalanche Seafires

[keith A]

I have several sources that recount the Seafire at Salerno. Generally the Seafires are credited with two kills and four damaged but in almost all sources (Shoers et al, Brown, Hobbs, Sturtivant) a full list of the claimants is missing one or two.

The two kills are credited to LCdr Bill Simpson of 897 NAS (although Hobbs reduces this to one kill and one probable) his wingman/wingmen are often credited with two damaged. All Bf109s.

My one research indicates the damaged victories were assigned to the following pilots.

I believe his wingman (SLt JAF Rankin, 897 NAS?) damaged another,

SLt AD Hawkins-King of 887 NAS who was leading a section in this combat damaged one too.

On other sorties SLt EJ Davies of 834 NAS (HMS Hunter) damaged a Bf109.

SLt G Ogilvy of 879 NAS (HMS Attacker) damaged a Fw190.

Lt RB Haworth claimed he and SLt Kelly of 899 hit (destroyed?) a Ju88 according to an auction blurb, but a look at his logbook shows that this claims is written in another hand, and therefore is probably untrue, as is a claim for a "Reggaine".

Opinions, arguments etc. all appreciated.

K