On this Saturday 11 April 1942 pilots from two Gruppe of JG 27 provided escort for 18 Ju 87 Stukas from I./StG 3 attacking enemy traffic in the Sidi Mansur-Bir Habex area. Joined by thirteen MC.202 from the Regia Aeronautica the Axis forces thereby mustered a formidable force over enemy held territory.

This force was however detected by Tomahawks from South African Air Force 4th Squadron and he South African bounce was led by Major Moodie as they dived in after the large Axis formation.

Of the seven Tomahawks participate in this attack only two would returned to base, one of them badly shot up. Two pilots were reported safe but slightly wounded, both having crash-landed. Another SAAF pilot, Lt Duff-Richardson was reported badly wounded and to be in a Tobruk hospital. Of two more pilots there was no news.

In all the South African pilots filed claims for one Bf 109 and a Ju 87, and to have damaged one MC 202 and another four more Stukas. British Intelligence later reported that two Ju 87s and one Bf 109 had been seen to go down, however the Axis formation did not lose a single aircraft in this combat.

The Germans on the another hand acknowledged one JU 87 downed, hit by enemy AA and one Bf 109 F-4 from 2./JG 27 that ditched in the sea, 80-100km north of Derna, but this was due to engine failure.

On the another hand the German claims perfectly matched the South African losses, as pilots from the I.Gruppe, Fw. Steinhausen and Fw. Niederhöfer claimed one P-40 each, the II.Gruppe, with Lt. Jenisch, Hptm. Düllberg, Lt. Kalista and Oblt. Franziskeit filed for another four Tomahawks.

This debacle with two pilots listed as WiA another two KiA and finally one taken PoW the SAAF Squadron was in tatters and was forced to be taken out of action and to withdrawn eastwards, ending up "flying patrol duties" over Port Said north of Kairo.

The SAAF 4 Squadrons motto: "Mors Hosti" (Death to the Enemy) was hardly appropriate considering what happened this day.

This Bf 109 F-4 "Rote 3" with the W.Nr. 8689 that was lost this day was flown by Unteroffizier Herbert Romeikat. He was seen to ditch in the sea some 100 km north of Derna after engine trouble, he has been listed as MiA since then.

Not much is know about this pilot others then he was accredited with one Abschuss, a Wellington from RAF 38 Sqn that was downed SW of Sidi Barrani on 9 March 1942.

Please note that during the last week I have been able to make seven new profiles, Romeikat profile was finished this Friday. The profile would be included in my upcoming Luftwaffe Fighters Profile Book No 18.