Re: Tomas Polak's STALIN'S FALCONS
 

Good evening Gentlemen,

when I emigrated to Switzerland I left my STALIN'S FALCON in Germany. If memory serves me right Nikolai Vasilchenko scored 4 kills in 1920 which would make him the top-scorer of that comparatively peaceful decade. Could anybody please have a look if that's true ?

Cheers,

Michael

Re: Tomas Polak's STALIN'S FALCONS
 

Re: Tomas Polak's STALIN'S FALCONS
 

Good evening kirche,

I know this veritable website and started to learn Russian to gain info from it.
So far, I have not been able to decipher if the Vasilchenko page provides the dates of his 4 kills. I also would be very interested in the plane type he flew when scoring.

Have a nice Wednesday,

Michael

Re: Tomas Polak's STALIN'S FALCONS
 

Hello, Michael
August 12, 1920. The "Wrangel" Front. 2nd Aviation Division.
Near the village of Malaya Kakhovka (near the city of Borislavl) - pontoon crossing over the Dnieper River. Attack by 7 enemy aircraft of the DH-9 type.
About here 46.779929840854706, 33.372316756225246
About Vasilchenko's plane: "a small "Nieuport" took off from behind a cloud".
According to the description of the battle, two DH-9 aircraft were shot down - one fell in the Bolshaya Kakhovka area, and the second fell "behind the front line" (apparently behind the Dnieper River).
According to some sources, during the entire period of the Civil War, N.N. Vasilchenko won 4 aerial victories (apparently including these two).

Best regards,
Kirill

Re: Tomas Polak's STALIN'S FALCONS
 

Good morning Kirill,

thanks for the translation.
I will ask my next visitor from Germany to bring along some of my airwar books to Switzerland incl STALIN'S FALCONS.
Furthermore, I will write a message to Mr. Kulikov who might know more about the issue.

Have a good Thursday,

Michael

Re: Tomas Polak's STALIN'S FALCONS
 

Page 325 in STALIN'S FALCONS:

Vasilchenko, Nikolai N. - One of the first successful fighter pilots of the Red Air Force, N. S. flew in the 6th Istrebitelnyi Aviatryad, claiming at least four victories against White forces during 1920.
Known claims
1920
12 August.....2.....De Havilland DH 9s......near River Dnieper.....6th IAO
14 October....2.....E/a

Cheers
Hans K

Re: Tomas Polak's STALIN'S FALCONS
 

Dear Hans,

thanks for your post.
Vasilchenko really seems to be the top fighter pilot of the 20s.
I wrote a message to Viktor Kulikov and asked him which Nieuport type he flew.

All the best to you, sincerely,

Michael

Re: Tomas Polak's STALIN'S FALCONS
 

"В 1920 году газета "Известия" сообщала, что 14 Октября в 15 часов 10 минут во время разведки аэродрома противника красный военный лётчик Н. Н. Васильченко обстрелял на стоянке 2 самолёта, после чего стал делать различные фигуры, чтобы вызвать неприятельских лётчиков на бой. Через 10 минут самолёты противника поднялись. Один стал набирать высоту, но затянул маневр, и Васильченко успел атаковать его напарника, обстрелял из пулемёта и заставил сесть. Первый же самолёт, после неудачно проведённой атаки, также попал под огонь красвоенлёта и вынужден был приземлиться."

The newspaper "Izvestia" wrote that on that day he called them into an air battle and then fired at them and forced them to land. But he didn't shoot them down.

Re: Tomas Polak's STALIN'S FALCONS
 

Good afternoon kirche,

that interesting.
Forced to land on White or Red territory ?

Have a good start into the weekend,

Michael

Re: Tomas Polak's STALIN'S FALCONS
 

Will the decimals of the 20 shared kills of Ivan Lakeev (p193) ever be known ?