Air battle of 23 November 1940 over Kent

[Laurent Rizzotti]

In the book "Battle of Britain - the forgotten months", there is first the description of a clash between 12 Spitfires of 603 Sqn and 29 CR 42s of 18° Gruppo, covered by 24 G50 of 20° Gruppo. Next to engage were 74, 92 and 253 Sqn chased "Bf 109s" but the author is suspecting these to be first the G50 of 20° Gruppo, who saw British fighters but did not engage them, and then Bf 109s of JG 54 who lost one shot down (pilot MIA) and one other damaged at 25%.

The book is not giving times except for the take-off of British units involved, but from the way it is written it seems that in the same general area were roughly at the same time CR 42s, G50s covering them (but failing to do so and not engaging British fighters) and Bf 109s of JG 54, probably rather on a Frei Jagd than on a direct escort for the Italian biplanes.

By the way both JG 54 losses belonged to II./JG 54 (one Stab and one 5. Staffel), so there is no proof that III./JG 54 was there too