After being forced out of Tunisia on 8 May 1943, leaving behind a lot of material, tools and seven Bf 109s undergoing repairs, III./JG 53 ended up at Sicily with 16 Messerschmitts and took some time off. The Gruppe spent the first days following the Tunisian debacle in a largely quiet state for needed rest and refit at their operational base at Sciacca. They were assisted by the very few Allied flights into its operational area.

Its new mission was the same as the old one but in a new location: the air defense of Sicily was its priority, and when required a few interception or reconnaissance missions over Malta. Over the next 16 months up to September of 1944, the Gruppe flew from bases in Sicily and then in the Italian mainland, coming under constant enemy air attacks.

Over this period there were 72 days of enemy contacts with the Gruppe's pilots filing 219 claims for mostly fighters (118) but also 101 bombers including 66 heavy bombers. These victories came at a great cost with the Gruppe losing a staggering 161 Messerschmitts, 48 of them due to air combat, 19 destroyed by bombing, and 50 destroyed by the Germans themselves while retreating.

Lt. Karl Vockelmann was a long-serving member of JG 53 and is credited with nine confirmed victories. He flew his last combat mission on this day, 19 May 1943, when he was shot down over the sea by an Allied fighter, and is still listed a MIA.

Regarding the very special marking behind the cockpit of this aircraft and other 7. Staffel Bf 109 G-6s, pilot Gorge Amon commented: "There was little flying at the beginning of our tour in Sicily and we used the time to adorn our machines with personal paintings." The artist responsible for the "Pik-as Mann" artwork was Uffz. Heinz Zack, one of the Staffel's "black men" serving as a mechanic.

'White 6' was a WNF-built G-6 completed in February of 1943 with its characteristic moderate size mottling in RLM 02/70/75.

My Comment: At least six planes from the 7. Staffel are known to be adorned with these amazing "Pik-as Mann" artworks thanks to photographic evidence. What is even more amazing is that the identity of these machines' pilots are all known such as the Bf 109 G-6 'White 9' flown by George Anon with its profile published in my 2016 Profile Book 6 (Profile No 50). The other four "Pik-as Manner" machines will published in the upcoming Profile Books 16 and 17.

Note the "Pik-as Mann" first crushing the Russian red star and then giving the British roundel a thrashing, fitting given that Vockelmann's first victory was a Russian DB-3, then following with British aircraft.

Regarding Profile Book No 14. This week we have been working on proof reading the Fw 190 captions.

Included in the Profile Book No 14, the reader would find, Four Bf 109 A and B:s, 17 Bf 109 Emils, 27 Bf 109 Fs, 23 Bf 109 Gs, and another 13 late war Bf 109 Gs including K-4s. When it comes to the Focke Wulfs: 30 Fw 190 A-1 to A-8 would be included and seven Fw 190 Doras, another late war Fw 190 prototyp, one He 162, and another Me 163, This together with a Macchi 202 flown by Marseille. Finally, four Me 262 and a captured P-51B Mustang is included.