Luftwaffe attacks on North African airfields in 1942

[RudiS]

Hi all,

can anyone tell me which Luftwaffe unit flying the Ju 88 attacked the following airfields in North Africa:

- Bone Airfield, west of Tunis on november the 15th, 1942
- Maison Blanche airfield, Algiers on november the 20th, 1942

The exact day can be one day before or after the given date. Sorry about that.

Personally I think it was IV/KG 54, but I'm not sure.

Thanks in advance,
Rudi.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Here is what is written in the classic book 'Fighters over Tunisia':

15 November 1942:

Bone was dive-bombed all day by Ju 88s, one of which failed to pull out and crashed straight into the ground on the northern corner of the airfield.
The two squadrons here were constantly in the air, FO K L Waud of 81 Sqn claiming a He 111, while Sgt Baker claimed a Ju 88. F/Sgt Friar attacked 2 Ju88s which were classed as probably destroyed, but was badly shot-up and crashed while trying to land; he died that night from his injuries. PO Tinsey and Sgt Stevenson of 111 Sqn each claimed Ju 88s also, and F/Sgt Jonsson, the RAF’s only Icelandic pilot, claimed a He 111, PO Christian claiming to have shared another of these with a pilot of another squadron. A I/KG 54 Ju 88 was reported missing over Bone, and two aircraft from 2/(F)122 also failed to return. Details of He 111s are not known.

20 November 1942:

Later that night German bombers attacked the crowded Maison Blanche airfield, 39 Ju 87s and 88s destroying five Beaufighters of 255 Sqn, and damaging 4 more, also destroying 3 B-17s, 2 P-38s and several Spitfires, killing 11 personnel and injuring 28 more. One of the dead was FO H Wyrill, DFC, of 255 Sqn, who was struck by bomb splinters as he was about to get into his Beaufighter; his navigator, F/Sgt J Williams, DFM, was wounded. The squadron was very upset about its inability to intercept without radar equipement.

Not exactly the answer of your question, but at least you have the good dates for the raids

[RudiS]

Thanks a lot for your quick response, Laurent. I really appreciate it.

It looks like KG 54 was indeed involved in both attacks.

Kind regards,
Rudi.