92 and 243 Squadron experts needed!

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hello,
I am researching the loss of Ofw. Wilhelm Baumgartner from .9/ JG 77, shot down on 11 April 1943, near Medjez-el-Bab, North Africa.
It seems that he was shot down by a 92 or 243 Squadron pilot. Please, could someone give me more details of CLAIMS made by any pilot of those two units this day?
Where could I find a detailed Claims list for North Africa, during April 1943?
Thank you in advance for any details that will help me to discover who claimed this distant member of the Baumgartner Clan.

Sincerely yours

Adriano Baumgartner

[Brian]

Hi Adriano

It seems probable that Obfw Wilhelm Baumgartner from 9/JG 77 was shot down by Plt Off Frank Malan (youngest brother of the Sailor Malan) of 72 Squadron, who claimed a Bf109 near Medjez-el-Bab on the morning (c.0745-0900) of 11 April 1943, assuming the time of day matches.

Was Wilhelm a relation?

Cheers
Brian

Ah! I have just seen the earlier postings, so possibly the above doesn't apply!

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hi!
Yes, my family came from Glarus, Switzerland around 1880´s. Wilhelm is Swiss born, so we are linked, although in a very distant way, by the same linkage.
Someone answered me on the Luftwaffe forum that JG 77 escorted some Ju 87s on a bombing mission that day ( I do not know if on an early mission as you posted 07-09hs ). It seems that it was around midday.
A claim was submitted by .8/JG 77 at 11:38hs and, the leader of the Schwarm + two other pilots that flew with Wilhelm claimed Spitfires also.
What I found is that F/L James Elmslie Walker ( later DFC** - J.3199 - a Canadian in the RAF ) of 243 Squadron shot down a Ju 87 that day. W/C Evan Mackie, DSO, DFC may have flown that day ( I say may have, because he did not claimed on the 11th April, although he did on the 10th - a Bf 109 around Medjez ).
I have tried to discover some USAF 31 FG and 52 FG claims for that period, but have no such good luck! I know they flew Spitfires over Tunisia and had several aces too, but, so far...
I tried to obtain more info about P/O Frank Malan, but got only his service number; nothing more...
Please, could you inform me if other pilots of 72 Squadron also claimed victims that day? What the name of the leader of the patrol? Which was Frank Malan aircraft? Did he got other victories during the war, or did he become a war casualtie?
Thanks a lot for your help...I feel I am close to discover the identity of Wilhelm´s victor.

Adriano Baumgartner

[keith A]

This victory was Frank's third. He shot down 2 Fw190 (one shared) on 3 December 1942. He was shot down, possibly by Ofw Grab of II/ZG1, on 26 April 1943 and died 27 April 1943.

[Ota Jirovec]

Hello Adriano,

Neither 31st FG nor 52nd FG USAAF have made any claims on 11 April 1943 (information from Frank Olynyk´s excellent MTO list) so it seems they can be safely ruled out as "suspects".

Hope this helps a little,

Ota

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hi Ota and Keith! Thanks a lot for your help.
I found a lot of claims made by 82FG, 95 and 96FS ( but on P-38s ). Am in contact with 72, 145 and 243 Squadron´s Associations for more details.
It seems that P/O Frank Malan claimed Wilhelm. It is the nearest I have come...
Did you know his serial aircraft number ( in which he was shot down? ), or his aircraft´s codes?
By the way, I searched about the German Zerstorer pilot who claimed him and it seems that it was not Fw. Grab, but another pilot of .6/ ZG 26.
I am now researching both facts...
Glad you had helped me so far...
Any details about Frank Malan´s death?

Glad

Adriano Baumgartner