Luftwaffe fighter losses in Tunisia

[Franek Grabowski]

Christer

This is a quote of yours.

I don't know if this is because the Americans were better pilots than those in the Desert AF. I don't think so; it would rather be the opposite because the pilots in the Desert AF were more experienced. Probably the American tactic of operating in larger formations is an important explanation.

Then we have another.

The RAF and the USAAF mounted a joint fighter sweep. While RAF 92 Sqn. despatched 12 Spitfires, US 57th FG despatched no less than 46 Warhawks in one huge mass. The Germans assigned an unusually high number of fighters to escort the Ju 52s (15 Bf 109s and 5 Bf 110s/Me 210s), and not least in view of this, the American tactic of concentrating large numbers to one and the same mission clearly was very effective. If the Americans would have despatched, let's say 30 Warhawks less on this mission, we probably never would have heard of anything called the "Palm Sunday Massacre".

It is obviously wrong as noted and your statement IMHO clearly indicate that there was a difference in British (12 Spitfires) and American (46 Warhawks) approach.
I do not find in your post any information that the Spitfires were top cover and judging by your another statement I understand you did that misinformation intentionally.

Do we have to start this mudslinging again? The book I used when I looked this up was Kenn C. Rust’s “The 9th Air Force”, page 31, where it says:
“The 57th Group sent 46 P-40s . . . with a top cover of 12 RAF Spitfires from 92 Squadron. . .”

Now, I expect explanation since when proving you wrong is mudslinging. Any comments from moderators?