German plane shot down over Italy

[veltro]

Extracted from "Air War Italy 1944-45" by N. Beale, F. D'Amico & G. Valentini:

"...21 JULY 1944

At 0830 Luftflotte 2 enquired of Fl. Div.2 whether a FAGr.122 aircraft with the Gruppenkommandeur aboard had landed in Southern France. The plane in question was a Ju 188D-2 of 4.(F)/122 (W.Nr.290183, F6+HM), missing from a mission to photograph La Maddelena, Sardinia. Piloted by Oblt. Fritz Mü�ller, it was also carrying Major Pannwitz, perhaps seeing for himself the difficulty of covering this tough target.

It appears that the Ju 188 was shot down by No.92 Sqn. The Spitfires of S/L Cox and Lt. Manne were on early patrol over Gorgona Island at 20,000 ft when they saw what they took to be a Ju 88 7,000 ft above them. Attacking from below they set its engines on fire and it crashed near Cervarezza (RE). None of those aboard got out, four of the five are still missing."

Hope this helps...