HISTORY

but it was uneventful. Two hours later, the

308th FS/31st FG flew an operation to Maknassy, led by temporary squadron CO Capt.

Hill, but they lost the P-39s early on, so flew

reconnaissance themselves before returning

to base.

Conclusion

The pilots and ground personnel of the 31st FG

were certainly in the thick of the action now,

and were about to be embroiled in the famous

Battle of Kasserine Pass, which began on 14

February 1943, when the Germans launched

a very successful counterattack at Sidi Bou Zid,

only 80 kilometres from Thelepte. That would

provide more than enough of the combat so eagerly sought by the 31st FG pilots. During their

first week flying operations from Thelepte, the

Group learned a lot about flying, operating, and

maintaining the Spitfire Mk. V. They were still a

long way from being seasoned veterans, but

the lessons of that week stood them in good

steed for the immense challenges to come in

the remainder of the Tunisian campaign, and

the Second World War.

Lt. Derwood K. Smith of the 308th FS/31st FG was one

of the fortunate pilots to land wheels down in the desert

on the afternoon of 10 February 1943.

Spitfire Mk. VB EP969, 309th FS 31st FG.

INFO Eduard - September 2021

Capt. James A. Isbell, Jr., of the 309th FS/31st FG. He flew five missions between 8 and 11 February 1943.

Acknowledgments

Gerhard Ausborn, J.D. Collinsworth family, Bill

Dickerson, Hugh D. Dow, James A. Isbell, Jr.

family, Morten Jessen, Charles C. Kenworthy

family, George J. LaBreche family, Rolland G.

Lamensdorf, Walter J. Overend family, Russell

Richardson, Jean-Louis Roba, Bernard J. Roche family, Derwood K. Smith family, Thomas

Stieglitz family, Adam Thompson, Rémi Tracanelli, Joe Vincent, Merritt C. Wolfe and family

Sources:

Primary Sources

BA-MA RL 2-II/296, Eingehende Meldungen.- Feindaufklärung: Meldungen Luftflottenkommando 2.Mittelmeer und Afrika, Februar 1943

BA-MA RL 7-2/118, Führer der Luftstreitkräfte Tunis

und unterstellte Einheiten.- Gefechtsberichte und

Tagesabschlußmeldungen: Bd. 4, Februar 1943

BA-MA RL 10/361b Teil 2, III. Gruppe.- Erfolgsberichte

(Auftrag, Ergebnis, Besatzung) (Einsatz Afrika, Italien), November 1942-September 1943

NA AIR 23/6609, Air Intelligence Reports: H.Q. U.S. 12th

Air Force, later N.A.A.F., 1942-1943

NARA RG 18 Box 2270, 31st Fighter Group, 1942-1943

USAFHO Reel B0110, 31st Fighter Group, 1942-1943

USAFHO Reel B0166A, 81st Fighter Group, 1942-1943

Isbell, James A. Logbook

Rudorffer, Erich Flugbuch

Collinsworth, J.D. Interview with Dogfighter, 17 February 2001

Collinsworth, J.D. Interview with Flying Heritage, 12

September 2002

Dow, Hugh D. Letters and Emails

Hill, Frank A. Interview with Museum of Flight, undated

Richardson, Russell Interview

Wolfe, Merritt C. Diary

Ausborn, Gerhard Letter

Dickerson, Bill Letters

Richardson, Russell Emails

Wolfe, Merritt C. Letters and Emails

Secondary Sources

Chandler, Jr., Clifford H. History of USAAF Spitfire

Operations in the Mediterranean (31st and 52nd Fighter Groups), Air Command and Air Staff College,

Maxwell Air Force Base, undated.

Craven, Wesley Frank & Cate, James Lea (eds) Army

Air Forces in World War II, Volume II: Europe: TORCH

to POINTBLANK, August 1942 to December 1943, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1949.

Howe, George F. United States Army in World War

II, Mediterranean Theater of Operations, Northwest

Africa: Seizing the Initiative In the West, Office of the

Chief of Military History, Washington, 1957.

Kucera, Dennis C. In a Now Forgotten Sky – The 31st

Fighter Group in World War II, Flying Machines Press,

Stratford, 1997.

LaBreche, George J. Memoirs, self-published, undated.

Lamensdorf, Rolland G. History of the 31st Fighter

Group, self-published, 1985.

Olynyk, Frank J. Victory List No. 6: USAAF (Mediterranean Theater) Credits for the Destruction of Enemy

Aircraft in Air-to-Air Combat of World War 2, self-published, Aurora, 1987.

Prien, Jochen, Stemmer, Gerhard, Rodeike, Peter &

Bock, Winfried Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945, Teil 11/I, Struve Druck,

Eutin, 2006.

Stieglitz, Thomas Barefoot in Boots: The World War II

Experiences of Staff Sergeant Thomas Stieglitz, self-published, 2009.

USAF Historical Study No. 114, The Twelfth Air Force in

the North African Winter Campaign, 11 November 1942

to the Reorganization of 13 February 1943.

eduard

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