1º Gruppo Caccia vs 15th AF, 19 Mar 44

[Don Caldwell]

The 1º Gruppo Caccia flew two missions against the 15th AF from Campformido on 19 Mar 1944. I have the sortie times and strengths, but lack any information on claims and losses. Can anyone help?

Horrido!

Don

[CENTURION]

Hi Don,

Can you please confirm the sortie date.
According to my sources, there were no fights on 19 March, while on the 18th 30 MC205 of the 1º Gruppo Caccia were in combat with the 15th AF over Friuli: they claimed 4 B24 and 3 P38 (3 P47 according to a different source) for the loss of 2 MC205 (Serg. Magg. Angelo Zaccaria KIA).


Regards
Marco

[Don Caldwell]

Hi Marco --

My source for the 19 Mar 44 sortie date is one of the best I've got -- the I. Jagdkorps Luftlage map (Kart 44/1661 in the BA-MA). Jafü Obritalien also scrambled I./JG 53 and I./JG 77 on the 19th, and the data on the map can be checked from other German sources. The action on the 18th was against a 15th AF feint toward the Reich that developed into a raid on the north Italy airfields. It thus remained outside the area of the I. Jagdkorps, and didn't make it onto their maps or reports. Why the I. JK clerks might have put the Italians on their 19 Mar mission map if they didn't actually fly would be a real mystery, requiring errors at several levels.

Does anyone else have any theories on what the Italians might have been doing on the 19th? Any replies will be appreciated.

Don

[CENTURION]

Hello Don,

As far as I know, indeed on the 19th 34 MC205 took off, but, as stated in my previous post, there were neither claims nor losses (according to Italian archive sources).
Probably they took off with the I./JG 53 and I./JG 77 but failed to engage the enemy.

Best Regards
Marco

[Don Caldwell]

Hi Marco --

This is just the information I needed. "No contact" is an acceptable result for a mission for what I am doing, as long as it's accurate. Since your sources give the 19 Mar mission strength (matching the I. JK), and give no claims or losses, I'm going to accept that there was no contact, or at most a very inconclusive encounter.

Thanks again for the help.

Don

[Nick Beale]

This isn't very specific but it may help.

[Don Caldwell]

Thanks, Nick --

The claims in the Luftflotte 2 report match those listed for I./JG 53 and I./JG 77 in other sources. I think it's safe to conclude that the ANR didn't claim anything.

Don