sergent-chef Louis Kann GCII/7 11 June 1943

[keith A]

On this date Sgt-Chef Kann (or Kahn?) claimed the destruction of a Fw190. According to one French source it was shared with two American pilots.

HMAW cannot decide whether the pilot is Kann or Kahn, using both names and notes that the US fighters (P-39s of 81st FG) claimed three kills and a probable.

Only one Fw190 of SchG.2 was shot down - in combat with a Spitfire.

Did GCII/7 acknowledge the participation of the P-39s? Especially after the American pilots seem to have claimed their successes without mentioning the French Spitfires.

Earlier that day Adj.Conrad Feldzer of GCII/7 appears to have claimed a Ju88 at least probably destroyed but it is not officially credited (not mentioned in HMAW), although it does appear in his Ordre de la Liberation citation.

regards

Keith

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Following is my translation of page 117 of the French book "Pilotes français sur l'Afrique du Nord et la Corse":

"Between 1425 and 1640 hrs twelve Spitfires of II/7 also flew around Pantelleria.

Between 1500 and 1600 hrs 20 Fw 190 and 15 Mc 202 escorted by Bf 109s from JG 53 attacked Allied ships and several air battles opposed them to Allied fighters.

Around 1530 hrs 2 Bf 109s flew close to the fighters of II/7 that attacked them immediately but the German fighters escaped by climbing higher. While they climbed back to their assigned patrol altitude, the French pilots saw two other Bf 109s and again chased them, but they escaped again.

Due to a failure of his belly tank, Adjudant Feldzer had to leave the formation. As his engine restarted shortly later, he climbed back across clouds to join the formation when he met a Ju 88 flying towards Sicily. He chased and attacked it, and the Ju 88 was hit and dived on fire. But as Feldzer was trying to finish it, he was fired at by AA fire and has to break off the pursuit. This "very probable victory" (the words of the book) was not officially credited.

Sergent-chef Kann (name is written like that in several instances in the book, also for other days) had also lost the formation in clouds and joined an US patrol. A Fw 190 was shot down in flames together with two American pilots."

[Bertrand H]

slt KANN Louis, Émile (05/04/1908-07/02/1984) posted to GC 3/3 "Ardennes" on 30/05/1944

In June 1943 he did not belong to GC 2/7 but posted 'on loan" to GC 2/7 from GC 1/7