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Old 29th December 2018, 04:08
Steve Birdsall Steve Birdsall is offline
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Gerbini, Sicily 5 July 1943



As some here would know, I wrote about a 99th Bomb Group B-17F named Sweater Girl in a book I did with Roger Freeman. I’m now trying to fill in the gaps in that story.

Sweater Girl displayed a number of symbols indicating enemy fighters shot down. There were at least six on the starboard side, but I’ve been unable to link any of them to a specific date and mission. The photo above shows two by the waist window and one by the radio room.

Anyway, as part of this project I am trying to separate the fact from the fiction regarding the air battle over and around Gerbini, Sicily on 5 July 1943.

Sweater Girl was one of 27 99th Bomb Group B-17s on the mission, for which the 99th was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation.

The B-17s were attacked by an estimated 100 fighters and three B-17s from the 348th Bomb Squadron were shot down. The 99th’s gunners claimed 38 fighters destroyed, 11 probables and one damaged. The B-17s also claimed that another 20 (of 28) fighters were destroyed on the ground.

My search for strike photos and detailed mission reports has been unsuccessful so I’m wondering if it might be best to instead start by trying to establish the actual German and Italian losses in the air and on the ground that day.

Any help would be very welcome indeed!
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Old 29th December 2018, 10:42
Dan History Dan History is offline
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Re: Gerbini, Sicily 5 July 1943

Steve, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I do not possess the information to give you a direct answer, but Volume Four of the Mediterranean Air War series has now been published, see https://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Mediterranean-Air-War-1940-1945/dp/1911621106

There was much acton on 5 July, of course, but the book probably contains the information on Axis losses that you are looking for. Furthermore, the book Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe Teil 11 Teilband II 1934-1945 will have information on German fighter losses over Sicily on this day, see https://www.jagdgeschwader.net/produ...roducts_id/113

Of the authors of these works; Russell Guest, Frank Olynyk, Jochen Prien and Gerhard Stemmer are all members of and regular visitors to this forum, but I imagine you know that

Kind regards,

Dan
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Old 29th December 2018, 12:46
Stig Jarlevik Stig Jarlevik is offline
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Re: Gerbini, Sicily 5 July 1943

Steve

I don't have your book, but since your 'Sweater Girl' probably was 42-29472 no such claims are known to the authors of MAW 4.
They "only" list 10 of these claims and all from an aircraft listed as 42-29857 (by four named gunners belonging to 348BS)

It was a day of huge over claiming (from both sides), and I doubt you will be able to find any pattern by checking up the losses. For example the authors could only find two German losses directly connected to fire from B-17 gunners.
Unfortunately the Italians did not list their losses as to who shot them down.

B Rgds
Stig
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Old 29th December 2018, 13:09
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Snautzer Snautzer is offline
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Re: Gerbini, Sicily 5 July 1943

https://www.fold3.com/search#query=S...iew=1&offset=1
https://www.fold3.com/search#query=S...et=2&preview=1
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Old 29th December 2018, 23:23
Rottler Rottler is offline
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Re: Gerbini, Sicily 5 July 1943

Hello Steve,

the following German fighter losses on 5 July 1943 are listed in JFV Vol. 11/II

III./JG 53
Bf 109 G-6 18297 Stab III./JG 53 Hptm Franz Götz Motorschaden, Bauchlandung, südlich Lentini, 30%
Bf 109 G-6 18388 „schwarze 15“ 8./JG 53 Ofw Karl Haarländer + Luftkampf B-17, Gerbini, 100%
Bf 109 G-6 16622 III./JG 53 N.N. Luftkampf B-17, Gerbini, FSA, 100%
Bf 109 G-6 15492 III./JG 53 N.N. Bauchlandung, Torrazzo, 30%
Bf 109 G-6 18308 „14“ III./JG 53 Bombenwurf, Torrazzo, 40%
Bf 109 G-6 18384 „4“ III./JG 53 Bombenwurf, Torrazzo, 40%
Bf 109 G-6 16588 „1“ III./JG 53 Bombenwurf, Torrazzo, 30%

I./JG 77
Bf 109 G-6 18432 I./JG 77 N.N. Rollschaden, Sciacca, 50%

II./JG 77
Bf 109 G-6 18815 II./JG 77 N.N. Luftkampf, südöstlich Castelvetrano, 65%

Regards
Leo
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Old 30th December 2018, 02:07
Steve Birdsall Steve Birdsall is offline
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Re: Gerbini, Sicily 5 July 1943

Thank you all - Dan, Stig, Snautzer and Leo - that's a great help.

The three B-17s that went down that day were in the second element of the 348th Bomb Squadron formation. According to the available reports, the first casualty was 42-29492, on the left of the element. It was on fire but holding formation. Then about five minutes later 42-29486, on the right of the element "exploded violently", with "pieces flying everywhere". At that time 42-29492 went down, hit the ground and exploded. Finally the element leader, 42-29483, "dropped down and back rapidly, alone".

If I recall correctly it was Roger Freeman who noted that the degree of over-claiming might at least indicate the ferocity of the battle.


Happy New Year to all.
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