Davis got the original inkling out of what you to definitely ideas would-be when he said on the headquarters of the fighter group to that 99 th could well be connected within the combat. “Spike” Momyer, new 33 rd Fighter Group’s chief, “not during the an informal trend, but privately certified.” Centered on Chris Bucholtz’s account of your appointment within his unit background, Momyer didn’t come back new salutes of Davis or the 99 th is the reason deputy commander.
Brand new snub is an effective harbinger of what to already been. For the moment, though, Davis got commitments to deal with, very the guy set-aside the condescension that he had came across. Undertaking satisfactorily regarding future actual-community sample is exactly what mattered in order to him.
When you find yourself escorting several Douglas An excellent-20 bombers right back off a great raid more Pantelleria, five of 13 P-forties broke out of the development in the beautiful search for the brand new attacking Messerschmitt Bf 109s
Centered on Gropman, Davis attained his guys ahead of their baptism of flame and you can told them: “The audience is here to do employment, and also by Goodness, we’re going to do it really, thus let us log in to involved.” Provided by Davis, the new 99 th ran on step towards Summer 2, 1943, flying away from an old Luftwaffe legs during the Fardjouna towards Tunisia’s Cover Bon Peninsula. Opponent ranks with the isle out-of Pantelleria had been targeted when you look at the diving-bombing raids as an element of Process Corkscrew.
To your age to the connection with Luftwaffe competitors the very first time. Provided because of the Charles W. Dryden, these types of four P-forties scattered because they chased quicker challenger planes when you look at the an effective futile just be sure to knock him or her from the air.
Such as for instance aggression was not fundamentally unwelcome; after all, fighter pilots was in fact expected to become pugnacious in the air. But staying with their squadron friends is actually a good cardinal code from inside the sky assaulting. While you are flaking off to render pursue wasn’t a rare reaction out-of greenhorn combatant pilots, on the future months this new incapacity to maintain the brand new formation’s integrity in this one to including manage feed a narrative intended for unraveling the fresh new black colored flying system.
Complete, Davis was happy with the fresh squadron’s abilities, and on Summer 11 th Pantelleria decrease, as, inside Davis’ terms, “the initial defended position about history of warfare getting outdone because of the applying of sky fuel by yourself.” Davis believed confirmed on their view of the fresh new 99 th when he gotten an email on the colonel serving due to 
the fact Allies’ area leader, stating: “You have got fulfilled the problem of one’s challenger and also have come out of your very first christening into the battle stronger licensed than ever.”
In mid-Summer, objectives integrated taking coverage to have shipping regarding the Mediterranean. From the resulting come upon, the new 99 th lost a couple of its pilots, Sherman W. White and you will James L. McCullin, however the squadron including obtained the first aerial victory having Charles B. Hall’s shootdown regarding a beneficial Focke-Wulf Fw 190.
Brand new situations influenced the newest squadron’s mind. For the first time this new people of one’s 99 th experienced this new mixed emotions off losing close friends when you look at the handle plus the elation regarding downing a rival. The latter motivated good congratulatory head to by the best Allied commander, Standard Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was simply with senior air commanders, Lieutenant-general Carl A great. Spaatz and Big Generals James H. Doolittle and you can John K. Cannon.
Up coming, into the July dos nd , Davis contributed several off his squadron mates for the a beneficial bomber escort mission in order to Castelvetrano for the southwest Sicily when the creation is actually sprang from the challenger competitors out-of more than
This new intrusion of Sicily went on apace plus the 99 th moved for the isle, setting-up surgery within Licata into the July 19 th . The new squadron travelled various objectives, however, did not have far exposure to adversary competitors. Assaulting continued up until the Italian language and you will Italian forces finished an enthusiastic evacuation towards August 17 th . Very early another few days, Davis try surprised as remembered on All of us in order to need command of one’s freshly-formed the-black colored 332 nd Combatant Classification.