| batbux |
| (stranger) |
| 03/07/2008 20:41 |
Giuseppe Ruzzin
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On june 29, 1943 my goodfriend Giuseppe Ruzzin (now in his 92!) was piloting a Bf109G-6/trop of the 154 Squadriglia of the 3 Gruppo autonomo of Regia Aeronautica (almost certainly W.Nr 18096 coded 154 4), it was 14:30 and Ruzzin with 2 other 109 after taking off from Comiso flew alongside German 109 of the Pik As squadron from Catania Fontanarossa versus 3 squadron of Spitfires...about 40 planes of three nationality, it was a Hornet nest! After exchanging friendly waves with a Spitfire pilot Ruzzin landed with the feeling that was "his best dogfight"
| batbux |
| (stranger) |
| 13/07/2008 13:37 |
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Re: Giuseppe Ruzzin
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It may interest readers to know some more information about Ruzzin's "best dogfight" of June 29, 1943:
It was defending Comiso airfield against three Squadrons of Spitfires, actually 1435(MkV fighter bombers), 111 & 243(mixed formation of MkV & the new arrived MkIX as escort planes), all Malta based. Curiously after invasion of Sicily in July 1943, Squadron 243 was really based at Comiso...that's life!
After a dogfight with a Spitfire, neither won and both rapidly exhausted the ammunition charge, then Ruzzin flew alongside that Spitfire, almost wingtip to wingtip! He always liked the graceful lines of Spitfire, "what a wonderful plane!" he said to me last week, "particularly the distinctive elliptical wing!"
Ruzzin goes on: "I clearly remember the blond moustaches with tips pointed down (tipical british?) of that Spitfire pilot. Ruzzin sported dark little moustaches à la Errol Flynn style, he still has today but now they are no more dark but..grizzled!
Just at this moment was that friendly waves were exchanged between the two "enemies" before Ruzzin headed back to Comiso.
It was more or less the same situation as portrayed in aviation movies as The Great Waldo Pepper or more recently Flyboys.
In 1988 (September & October) Aeroplane published an account of Group Captain H.F. O'Neill DFC (From Malta with bombs): he was commander of 1435 Sqn. In the first part of his article Mr O'Neill described the same situation of exchanging friendly waves this time however with an italian CantZ506 floatplane and also an attack at Comiso airfield: perhaps Mr O'Neill or one of his pilots was one of Ruzzin enemies! I have seen a picture of Group Captain O'Neill and he sported moustaches...