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On April 10th, 1943, 14 P-38 Lightnings of the 71st Fighter Squadron
and 11 P-38's of the 94th FS, 1st Fighter Group, intercepted
50 JU-52 transports ferrying desperately needed men and material
to Rommel's Afrika Korps in Tunisia. The German transports were
woefully under-protected by 15 Italian Macchi MC-200 and Luftwaffe
FW-190 escorts. On this day the JU-52's proved to be easy prey
to the guns of the 71st. It was during this mission that Lt Lee
Wiseman scored three victories (1 Macchi and 2 JU-52s) and later
went on to become an "Ace" with the 71st. Numerous
pilots of the 71st scored that day as 20 JU-52's, 4 MC-200s and
one FW-190 fighter were shot down. Lt Wiseman remained with the
71st throughout the war and eventually became the commander of
the 71st Fighter Squadron while stationed in Italy. |