The airwar over North Africa..The Med and into Italy sometimes is overlooked in comparison to what was occuring over Europe and the Russian front.
For England..the Med was like the Battle of Britian which just went on and on.
Malta and other North African battles saw German technical prowess surge ahead when the FW -190 arrived in increased numbers.
RAF up engined their Spifrife 5's..with the Spit 9 being able to hold its own with the FW 190.
Yet..the air battles the RAF and U.S. saw were not easy wins....the Luftwaffe pilots of this region were experten....ME-109 Gustav's were a handfull with a skilled pilot behind the stick.
Many cases of Chivallry occured....both Luftwaffe and Allied pilots..allowing a damaged foe to retire.
Downed airmen ..some in Luftwaffe Hospitals had their injury status conveyed by letters dropped on airfields.
An intersting story within a story..the Airwar over the Med.
Should read Spitfire 5's.
Blame it on Italian Vino : )