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Meanwhile, SG 4’s Fw 190s and their remaining escorts, the Bf 109s of III./JG 53, were continuing down the Liri Valley when, at 13.23 hours and 4,500 m. eight Spitfires attacked the Focke-Wulfs from behind and above. After two passes the Spitfires flew off below, the engagement having lasted four minutes. As a result, III./JG 53 lost contact with the Focke-Wulfs and could not find them over the target area.

No. 92 Squadron RAF was patrolling on a NW–SE line near Frosinone as cover for 24 Baltimores. Around 13.30 hrs. the Spitfire pilots spotted 22 aircraft to port which “hastily” dropped their bombs near Minturno (on troop concentrations and assemblies west of the town, according to German sources) before turning back north west. Squadron Leader Cox damaged one, then attacked another which crashed in flames near Esperia. Flying Officer Jones dived on the Germans as they made a left hand turn, hitting one whose pilot baled out; Lt. V. Boy (SAAF) and W/O Young shot up another Fw 190, its pilot also taking to his parachute and giving 422 Wing its 400th kill. During a long chase through cloud, F/O Montgomerie managed to damage a Fw 190 before it got away.

One or all of the German and Allied reports of parachutes may refer to Lt. Gerhard Gärtner of Stab II./SG 4 who baled out of his Fw 190 A-6 (W.Nr. 470444) after an action with Spitfires over San Giovanni. The 37-year-old Ltn.Günther Entress of 6./SG 4 (Fw 190 G-8, W.Nr.190068) was also killed fighting Spitfires but the location is not recorded. (Entress had been wounded in air combat south west of Guidonia on 29 October the previous year. At that time he was a member of II./Schl.G. 4; his Fw 190 G-3, W.Nr. 160408 was destroyed).

Source learnt from a note dated 13/5 that 3 Fw. 190 were reported missing between AQUINO and FROSINONE.

(British Government Code and Cipher School)

At 18.20, just north of Lake Bracciano, P-47s were attacked by ten “very aggressive” Bf 109s and 4 Fw 190s. The Americans claimed 2–0–1 Bf 109s and a Fw 190 damaged but lost one of their number, the pilot baling out. The Bf 109s were from 8./JG 53 whose pilots claimed two P-47s but lost two of their own aircraft with both pilots wounded. At the same time, Spitfires were engaging 25 Bf 109s and Fw 190s over Cassino …

No. 601 Squadron had been scrambled to intercept the raid and were still climbing when they met it coming in from the north west at 15,000 feet. Leaving six behind as top cover, the Germans dived but lost one of their number to AA fire. The Spitfires pursued as far as Frosinone but could not overtake and lost their intended victims in the haze.

Meanwhile, 145 Squadron had taken off to sweep north of Rome, although six of them had to turn back with engine trouble. F/S Stirling was escorting one of the lame ducks home when he heard the report of enemy aircraft over Cassino and made for Frosinone to cut them off. Engaging the top cover Schwarm, he claimed a Bf 109 destroyed, one probable and one damaged. The remainder of the Squadron bounced six Bf 109s heading north near Arezzo, claiming three destroyed and two damaged, S/L Neville Duke taking his score to 23. At 19.13 hours, Spitfires patrolling over Perugia engaged yet another group of Bf 109s, claiming three shot down and three damaged. The 7./JG 53 lost one Bf 109 in these combats, its pilot baling out wounded. Another Messerschmitt bellied in at Arlena with combat damage but it is not clear whether it had been in action against the British or the Americans.

Luftflotte 2’s total effort for the day had been 183 sorties, including two ground attack operations directed at troop assemblies west of Minturno and tank/motor transport concentrations in the Cassino area. In the second of these missions, eight Fw 190s had been able to bomb, despite the intervention of the Spitfires.

The Luftflotte Intelligence Officer summed up the results:

Bombs well placed on target. the good placing of bombs and effect confirmed by ground troops.

During protective escort, 5 Kittyhawks shot down.

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