April 1943

Air Operations, North Africa

Operation FLAX is launched by Allied air comnands to cut off the flow of reinforcements and supplied being flown from Italy to Axis-held bases in Tunisia. The general air offensive is a part of its support for Operation VULCAN, the upcoming final Allied ground offensive in Tunisia.

At 0800 hours, during a sweep over the Straits of Sicily aimed at interrupting the German aerial supply line, 26 1st Fighter Group P-38s encounter a formation of 50 to 70 multi-engine aircraft and 30 escort fighters about 25 miles northeast of Cap Bon. In relentless attacks, the USAAF pilots down 11 Ju-52s, 1 FW-187, 2 Ju-87s, 3 Bf-109s, and 2 unidentified aircraft.

Within twenty minutes of the first attack, a force of 18 310th Medium Bomb Group B-25s, escorted by 82nd Fighter Group P-38s, arrives in the same area to attack an Axis surface resupply convoy from Sicily being covered by a force of Luftwaffe from bases in Tunisia. The B-25s attack and demolish a destroyer and damage 2 freighters. The P-38s engage the covering Lufwaffe fighters and another aerial resupply convoy that happens to fly into the fightt. 82nd Fighter Group P-38 pilots are credited with 9 Ju-52s, 3 Ju-87s, 3 Bf-109s, 1 Bf-110, and 1 Me-210. 4 P-38s with their pilots and 1 B-25 with its crew are lost.

Next, late in the morning, 36 321st Medium Bomb Group B-25s, escorted by 18 82nd Fighter Group P-38s, attack Bo Rizzo Airdrome, Sicily, an originating point for the aerial resupply effort. In an aerial fight on the return flight, the P-38s down 2 Bf-109s over the Egadi Islands. 2 B-25s are lost on this mission.

Afternoon bombing missions of Operation FLAX include 18 B-17s escorted by USAAF Spitfires attack Bizerte/Sidi Ahmed Airdrome; 22 B-17s escorted by USAAF Spitfires attack Tunis/El Aouina Airdrome, destroying an estimated 30 Axis aircraft, mostly transports; 22 B-17s attack Bocca di Falco Airdrome, Sicily, destroying many aircraft on the ground and 3 fighters in the air; and 28 B-17s, escorted by 16 P-38s, attack Trapani/Milo Airdrome, Sicily, where over 50 transports and bombers are damaged or destroyed.

It should be noted that German records for April 5, 1943 show only 14 Ju-52 were shot down, only 11 Ju-52s and Me-323s were destroyed on the ground, and only 67 other transports were damaged in the air or on the ground.