Important (?) Ju 52 loss 12.07.1943 Sicily

[FrankieS]

On 15.07.1943 there was an article in the London Times (see attachment) with a rumour stating Rommel had been shot down.
The articles states that on Monday 12.07.1943 a Ju52 heavily escorted (30 fighters !) was shot down near Sicily
Does somebody know which Ju52 was lost and what was it's imprtance?

bye,
Frank

[Brian Bines]

Hi Frank,

I checked the GQM list and found nothing obvious. Looking up Gen Sigfrid Westfal I found nothing but under Gen Siegfried Westphal (1902 - 1982) it showed him as a staff officer under Rommel and Kesseling. So it looks like the Times report may have been speculation.
On what looks like 12-7-1943 Ju52 1324 of III/TG1 is shown as falling to fighters at FI.PL. Catania with two aircrew killed and two wounded, no mentiom of passengers,

Regards

Brian Bines

[Matti Salonen]

At least the following passangers from 9./Ln.-Rgt.110 were killed in 1324 (not 1342) of 11./TG 1:
Gefr Butenop, Peter
Ogfr Empting, Wilhelm
Ogfr Hauke, Alois
Ogfr Kraus, Rudolf

Matti

[Leendert]

Flight Magazine of 22 July 1943 (also) makes a reference to the rumours, but here it is suggested that not Rommel, but Kesselring may have been the high ranking passenger who prompted a big fighter escort.

Regards,

Leendert

[Larry deZeng]

Gen.d.Kav. Siegfried Westphal ended the war in May 1945 as Chef d.Genst. OB West and died of natural causes in Celle on 2 July 1982. At the time of the Ju 52 incident, he was Chef d.Genst. OB Süd in Rome. There is no mention in his records of being injured in any plane crash, enemy-caused or otherwise.

[Brian Bines]

Matti, thanks for the correction. I have aircrew as Ff Fw Helmut Ulber inj. Bf Uffz Florian Kogler +., Bm Uffz Franz Nowack inj., Bs Ogef Walter Eilau +

Regards

Brian Bines