Which P-47 Group(s) in combat on 16 May 1943?

[Ruy Horta]

Tiefflug means low level flight - on the deck so to speak.

I did not check Caldwell before, but he lists only a single claim by Priller.

He also leaves no doubt that the single 78th FG loss was shot down by Priller, but Caldwell does allow for the fact that Philipp or a fellow JG 1 pilot might have been responsible for wounding another 78th FG pilot during this engagement.

Since I do not have the actual combat reports, I can only guess, but as things are I think it would be difficult to unequivocally attribute the claim to either pilot or unit.

If Caldwell is right, two more JG 26 pilots were lost, one of them killed in a forced landing.

However the 4th and 56th were also involved that day (Freeman) and without knowing their exact mission profile we cannot disprove that they weren't involved in any of the combats. US claims for the day 2-2-3 (destroyed-probably destroyed-damaged).

If the 78th FG was the sole unit engaged their claiming was very accurate.