MTO 23 June 1944

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Hi Nick

The French book "Pilotes français sur l'Italie" (French pilots over Italy) describes in detail the activities of French air units over this country from May 1944 to May 1945.

Three pages on 23 June 1944, but no contact with German fighters. GC II/3 and II/5 did not fly, their missions being cancelled by bad weather. Spitfires of GC I/7 and II/7 flew some missions and one was shot down by Flak near Pise, sous-lieutenant Guy Antoine Bouttier being killed.
No P-47 was lost to engine failture this day, but a P-39 (serial 42-13372) of GC III/6 was lost due to a failure of fuel tank off Djidjelli, Algeria, the pilot, second-maitre Marpaud, baling out and being rescued some hours later.

The next day, 24 June 1944, fighters were met: during the second mission of the day of GC II/5 (against a rail bridge south of Ovada), as the P-47s were starting their bombing run, Messerschmits dived out of clouds and surprised them. French pilots all managed to evade the attack and after some aerobatics and many bursts fired by both sides, both formations broke formation without any loss on both sides. The 11 P-47s landed at 1855 hrs at Alto, only two, flown by capitaine Thierry and sergent-chef Lesieur, having suffered some light damage.
No P-47 lost to engine failure reported for this day, only one flown by lieutenant Dugit-Gros of GC II/3 suffering a blown tire when landing at Alto at 1800 hrs after a mission, the pilot being unhurt (serial and damage of aircraft not given by the book).

In the few days before and after 23 June, only one French P-47 was lost according to the book: on 20 June, lieutenant Marill of GC II/3 was hit by Flak during a raid on a bridge at Pisa and had to bail out between Corsica and Italy on the way back, being rescued by a Walrus one hour later.