Kriegstagebuch Stab JG 77

25.11.43
II./JG 77 has been re-equipped with the Macchi 205. The machine is fast and good to fly except for a tendency to enter a spin easily when losing speed in tight turns. A further disadvantage is the fitting of an Italian radio. Despite talking over a powerful transmitter it is barely possibly to communicate with the aircraft. Finally, refuelling and rearming are very intrcate, so that re-establishing operational readiness is very protracted.
The operation of the radar sets is still not cause for satisfaction, including Set F120 …
13.42–14.47	17 Macchi 205s scramble (no contact). Since no coherent picture could be obtained from the reports and radio contact could not be established with the aircraft, no contact with the enemy.
26.11.43
12.52–14.16	14 Macchi 205s scramble. Since radio contact could not be established and the light was strongly blocked by […], conact was not made with the enemy.
16.30–17.15	2 Macchi 205s reconnaissance flight.
	At the behest of the Koflug, reconnaissance of a castle where a Partisan HQ […]. No special conclusions.
27.11.43
15.16–16.30	2 Macchi 205s scramble. No radio contact, no contact with enemy.
28.11.43
15.42–16.45	14 Macchi 205s scramble. Heavies between Lagnasco and Turin. No contact with enemy.
29.11.43
	Bf 110 arrived from 7. Jagddivision as contact aircraft for flights heading into Germany and is stationed with II./JG 77 in Lagnasco.
01.12.43
13.25–14.25	16 Macchi 205s scramble.
	Aborted: 3 [with] weapons unserviceable; 1 oxygen; 1 went into a spin; 2 had to break off.
	Contact with the American formation. Combat with 25 Lightnings, bombers could only be attacked with difficulty.
	Successes: 1 Lightning shot down, 2 Lightnings and 5 bombers effectively shot up.
02.12.43
14.30–15.41	4 Macchi 205s scramble.
	An hostile reconnaissance plane was spotted over Turin. Recognised by condensation trails 3–4000 m. over our own aircraft. Enemy lost in the clouds.
10.12.43
13.12–14.10	18 Macchi 205s scramble with orders to patrol over base. No contact with enemy.

INTRODUCTION

I translated the January–July 1944 section of this war diary when working with Ferdinando D'Amico and Gabriele Valentini on Air War Italy 1944–45, using photocopies of the original (in the Bundesarchiv, Freiburg) kindly supplied by Jean-Louis Roba.

Later, I also translated the sections dealing with the Macchi 205 for an article by Ferdinando and Gabriele, I Veltro Dell'Asso Di Cuori, in the Italian aviation magazine JP4. For that I used the microfilm copies of the diary in the Imperial War Museum, London.

So far as I know, there isn't another English translation or I might have saved myself a lot of time and effort.

In places the handwriting of the original defeated me and it still does.

Translation © Nick Beale
1989- 2006