US losses,region of Pratica Di Mare 30/07/43

[focusfocus]

Hello

That they would have been the losses that day (B-17 and P-38)

Several were claimed by the RA.

Michel

[RSwank]

On July 30, according to the AAF Chronology, B-17s attacked Grottaglie Airfield near Taranto. B-25s attacked Pratica Di Mare.

http://paul.rutgers.edu/~mcgrew/wwii...ml/Jul.43.html



WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force)
In Italy, Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) B-17's bomb
Grottaglie Airfield and B-25's hit the airfield at Pratica di Mare. In
Sicily, Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) A-20's bomb Milazzo
and hit gun positions N and E of Centuripe and fighters hit shipping off
Milazzo.

[Leendert]

Michel,

Some more about 30 July 1943 and the B-25s to Pratica di Mare here: http://57thbombwing.com/310thHistory/310_BG_1943-07.pdf

This BG may have been escorted by P-38s of the 82nd FG.

Regards,

Leendert

[focusfocus]

Thanks to you two.

So I deduce that no B-17 or P-38 was lost in that region,and that the claims made by the Regia Aeronautica (in particular by Franco Bordoni- Bislerine B-17) are unfounded.

michel

[Alex Smart]

Hello Michel,
B17's of the 2nd ( Mission 51) and 99th ( Mission 59 ) Bomber Groups
Attacked Grottaglie A/D on this date.
There seem to have been zero losses but that does not mean that some may have encountered enemy fighters, were damaged and perhaps this was the possibility of a claim being made ?
There seems to be No MACR's for any.
Alex

[Laurent Rizzotti]

This is what is written for this date in the book "The Second was first", a story of 2nd BG:
"GROTTAGLIE, ITALY - MISSION NO. 51 - JULY 30, 1943
Twenty-seven aircraft dropped 324, 500-lb. GP bombs on the Airdrome at Grottaglie. The target was well covered with several fires reported. Flak was slight, heavy, accuracy poor. S/Sgt. George R. Roberts L/T, 429th Squadron was slightly wounded by flak. There were no encounters with E/A."

I have no data for 99th BG.