Again, I have this plan to build a mission set in North Africa. I intend to use the excellent new Libya map that comes with UI 1.1 This time I'm going for a 100% (within limits of the game) historical mission. I chose 5 december, 1941 when a number of Ju-87's were shot down by 250 sqn flying P-40 Tomahawks over Bir el Gobi.

So far I found out which fighter units were involved (Bf 109's from II/JG 27 and P-40 of 250 and 112 sqn) and what their bases were. However, I don't know if the Ju-87 were German or Italian and what their squadron and base were. Also, some Fiat G.50's flying close escort were shot down, but I don't know their home base, possibly Martuba? (G.50 from 352a Squadriglia, 20o Gruppo, 51oStormo CT. )

Anyone has more information on this? I've searched the net for hours now, but have come up dry...

Thought I might be able to help, but the list of Stuka losses for Crusader that I have goes to 4 Dec and then says, 'And so it went on'.

However, I do know from researching 'Stuka Leader: Tobruk' that II./StG 2 was at Tmimi at this time; I./StG 1 was at Derna, as was Stab./StG 3 who had arrived in Aug to take command of the desert Stukagruppen; I./StG 3 were recent arrivals in Dec and were also based at Derna. Not sure which Picchiatelli units might potentially have been involved, but 209a Squadriglia were in action over the desert during Sep 41, although by May 42 they were operating over Malta.

Thanks, I am now at least able to place those units in the correct airfields. I do know the Picchiatelli were active in the same area a day before, together with the Germans. We could assume they were also active the next day as there were no Stuka losses on the 4th I believe... Do you know the base of the Italians?

No, I'm afraid I don't have any basing info on the Italians. Back in Apr 41 the understrength 96o Gruppo had been assigned to Helmut Mahlke's III./StG 1 who were missing 9. Staffel and therefore had a vacant slot. That would have meant operating together out of Derna. But by Dec III./StG 1 were long gone back north across the Med.

Stukas also seem to be pictured or mentioned at Gambut, east of Tobruk, around Oct/Nov 41, but it may not have been a permanent base, being that much closer to the enemy.

In 'Ju-87 Stukageschwader of North Africa & the Mediterranean', John Weal says 13 Stukas were 'either shot down or claimed as probables' on 4th. That's where he adds the 'And so it went on' comment I mentioned previously. However, he does seem to be quoting allied claims at this point (which is unusual, as most of the books in this series tell the story almost exclusively from the Stuka's point of view), so even if 13 were claimed shot down or probable, it's not inconceivable that none were actually lost on that occasion. What is certain though - and your mission is going to show this, I'd guess - is that Stuka losses did start to rise alarmingly with the start of Operation Crusader and the heavy fighting that followed.