Spitfire losses 5 March 1943 North Africa

[Thierry K]

Hi all,
On 5 March 1943, over the southern front line in Tunisia, Gabes-Medenine area, I have only one Spitfire of 601 Sqn lost, pilot baled out, safe, and a second of 601 Sqn too, damaged, pilot wounded.
Were other Spitfires lost on that day in that area ?
Thanks
Thierry

[Laurent Rizzotti]

This is what is written for this day in "Fighters over Tunisia" (only extracts with Spitfires involved):

"At 0645 four 92 Squadron Spitfires took off to provide an independent roaming top cover to other Spitfires of 1 SAAF Squadron, but they were suddenly attacked out of some clouds by seven Bf 109s of I/JG 77, and a 15 minutes dogfight began, during which Hpt. Bär shot down FO 'Happy' Mac-Mahon, who crashed and was killed.

Eight Spitfires from 601 Squadron flew to Hazbub Main for readiness, and at about 1215 four of these scrambled to patrol over the forward area; a lone Bf 109 was then seen going west very fast, flown by Hpt. Bär of I/JG 77. The confident Bär, sure of his own ability, and at this time by his own admission, possessed of a feeling of complete invulnerability, climbed above the Spitfires and then dived on them out of the sun. They turned towards him and he passed straight by, pulled round, and a few moments later attacked F/Sgt. Tilston, who was forced to bale out.
During 601’s last scramble of the day from Hazbub Main, o
ne aircraft got caught in the slipstream of the others and crashed, the pilot being injured. The other three arrived west of Medenine at 13000 feet, seeing more than 12 Bf 109s and MC 202s 2000 feet higher. They climbed to 19000 feet, and then attacked an MC 202 and a Bf 109, Fl.Lt.Nicholls firing at the Italian fighter and claiming to have slightly damaged it."

This is what is in Tony Wood claim lists for this day:

05.03.43 Hptm. Heinz Bär: 166 Stab I./JG 77 P-40E  Fatnassa based: 07.40 Film C. 2031/I Anerk: Nr. –
05.03.43 Hptm. Heinz Bär: 167 Stab I./JG 77 P-40E  Fatnassa based: 07.45 Film C. 2031/I Anerk: Nr. -

Supplemental/Alternative Claims from Other Sources:
05.03.43 Hptm. Heinz Bär: 166 Stab I./JG 77 Spitfire  Type & Time confliction: 08.00 Reference: JG 77 Lists f. 2426
05.03.43 Hptm. Heinz Bär: 167 Stab I./JG 77 Spitfire  Type & Time confliction: 08.00 Reference: JG 77 Lists f. 2426
05.03.43 Ltn. Ernst Laube: 7 3./JG 77 Spitfire  - 08.00 Reference: JG 77 Lists f. 2426

And this is what I extracted from a Spitfire production list available online:

BR284 VcT 2809 EA M46 FF 11-4-42 39MU 12-4-42 82MU 20-4-42 SS483 9-5-42 Middle East 6-10-42 Damaged by Bf109s and abandoned nr Sfax 5-3-43 SOC 26-3-43
EP794 Vb CBAF M46 12MU 1-8-42 47MU 2-9-42 SS625 30-10-42 Gibraltar 6-11-42 [FA SOC 31-12-42] Taxied into shell hole Hazbub 5-3-43
ER191 Vb CBAF M46 9MU 28-8-42 76MU 10-9-42 SS620 15-10-42 Gibraltar 1-11-42 Collided with another aircraft while landing in rain La Senia 5-3-43
ER212 Vb CBAF M46 46MU 29-8-42 222MU 1-10-42 Ocean Courage 7-11-42 Middle East 1-1-43 601S Control lost on take-off crashlanded Hazbub -Main 5-3-43 SOC 26-3-43
ER709 Vb CBAF M46 12MU 20-10-42 82MU 27-10-42 Hamble V 19-11-42 Gibraltar 8-12-42 NWAfrica 28-2-43 243S Overturned on landing Souk-el-Khemis C3 5-3-43

This is the various data I have, to conciliate all of them will be another matter...

[Thierry K]

bonsoir Laurent
According to John Tilston's account he took of shortly after midday behind his leader F/O Percy Sewell (rcaf). As they reached 20.000 ft he was hit in the right wing and engine and saw a Me 109 on his right side having his leader in his sights. ( leader landed safely but with some bullet wounds)
Tilston bailed out and had been on the ground in friendly lines.
Thank you very much for quick and exhaustive answer. Merci beaucoup Thierry