2/196 airbattle near Sardinien 29.09.1943?

[Laurent Rizzotti]

On this date, Germans were evacuating their troops from Corsica by boat, barges and aircraft. These troops, that were based in Corsica and Sardinia before the Italian surrender on 8th Sep 1943 were gathered in Bastia area for evacuation and were fighting against French resistance members, French regular soldiers and Italian troops, but not on a heavy scale. Their worst losses were at sea and in the air.

I have two versions of the aerial battle:

On this day, 5 Spitfire V of GC 2/7 "Nice" and 6 of GC 1/3 "Corse" took off at 16h30 from Ajaccio (SW Corsica). The first were ordered to attack the ships, the latter to escort them and attack transport aircraft. They flew east and crossed the eastern coast ner Ghisonaccia, gathered 30 km off the coast then flew to Bastia. Three pilots of GC 1/3 reported 4 aircrafts at 11 o'clock and attacked. They were Ar196s.
According to the book "Pilotes français sur l'farique du Nord et la Corse", two were shot down on the first pass, one in flames and the other turning too sharp to avoid the attack and spinning to the sea. Two other were then chased and are claimed as shot down in the group's history. Victories were awarded to capitaine Prayer (2), lieutenant Brunet (1) and sergent-chef Sarrail (1). During this battle the Spitfires of GC 1/3 saw 7 Ju52s flying in formation towards Bastia and attacked them, claiming four shot down and 2 badly hit. German gunners return fire didn't hit seriously any Spitfire. French pilots returned to Ajaccio at around 18h10 with no more ammuntion.
According to the magazine "Aérojournal n°10", capitaine Duval of GC 1/3 saw the Ar 196 and led his formation to attack them. But in the heat of the action, he mistook the security of his guns with his brakes (?) and was unable to shot. His wingman, lieutenant Jacquet, thought his leader had recognized friendly aircraft and didn't shoot either. WHen he recognized German markings if was too late but the French fighters returned to attack and shot down two (one in flames, one spinning in a turn and crashing in the sea, as above). The two last fled towards the open sea and led the chasing SPitfires right on a formation of 7 Ju52s flying to Bastia and they shot down 4, taking some hits by return fire but nothing serious. The claims are according to AéroJournal: capitaine Prayer (leader of the 1st escadrille of the groupe) 1 Ar196 and 1 Ju52, lieutenant Brunet 1 Ar196, sergent-chef Sarrail 1 Ar196 and 1 Ju52, capitaine Roger Duval (leader of the groupe) 1 Ju52, adjudant-chef Martin 1 Ju52.
The "Aérojournal" version is probably more accurate than the first one. And is the only one that provided details on all victories scored, even if it didn't tell how the 3rd Ar196 was claimed ?

During these aerial battles, the Spitfires of GC 2/7 attacked barges and ships and met intense AA fire. They claimed a great troop-carrying barge on fire but the adjudant Bourdon was hit by the Flak and had just the time to tell it on the radio before crashing in the sea.

Source:
"Pilotes français sur l'Afrique du Nord et la Corse"
Aéro-Journal n°10
some details about pilots on http://perso.wanadoo.fr/frenchaces/

So to reply to your last question, yes a Spitfire was shot down but not by Ar196s, as the squadron that met them suffered no loss.