Bf109 massacre on 30 July 1943

[Leo Etgen]

Hi guys

Just as an aside I will add that according to Christer Bergström a total of 888 German fighters were lost in the Mediterranean theater from November 1942 through May 1943. According to the Strength Report web page for III./JG 77 at http://www.ww2.dk/oob/bestand/jagd/biiijg77.html this Gruppe lost 67 aircraft "durch Feindeinwirkung" (due to enemy action) in this time period. It suffered 19 additional losses in this category in June 1943 and July 1943. I have no idea how many pilots the unit lost in this time period but it does appear as losses were heavy thus giving credence to the information Arthy has provided that morale was low. It certainly stands to reason that many of its pilots at the time of this particular engagement were probably as inexperienced in aerial combat as the pilots of the 325th FG thus leading to the over claiming involved on the German side and the remarks by the Americans concerning their opponents.

Horrido!

Leo