Re: Bell P-39 top ten ace list
 

Good evening Gentlemen,

can anybody tell me the dates and/or decimals of the 3+3shared Alexandr Pokryshkin claims that are not listed in this list ?
http://soviet-aces-1936-53.ru/abc/p/pokryshkin.htm

Cheers,

Michael

Re: Bell P-39 top ten ace list
 

I hope the following adds some details.


https://www.defensemedianetwork.com/...ed-challenges/


https://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircra...9/42-4287.html

Re: Bell P-39 top ten ace list
 

Regarding Pokryshkin, Bykov states no shared victories with the P-39 but only the three mentioned on the site claimed with MiG-3 and Yak-1.

Best wishes/Håkan

Re: Bell P-39 top ten ace list
 

Good evening Håkan,

I suppose the list I mentioned is based on Mr Bykov's work.
I would interpret it as listing 43+3sh kills of a total of 46+6sh.
Therefore, I think the dates and decimals of 3+3sh Pokryshkin kills are unknown to the webmaster (and Mr Bykov).
Could you agree ?

Michael

Re: Bell P-39 top ten ace list
 

Hello Michael,

My interpretation is that when Pokryshkin was decorated with the third HSU in August 1944, the award documents mentions 46+6 but Bykov has only found evidence of 43+3 in his research.
The awards document are very often wrong (I've only looked into RAF and VVS so other air forces I don't know) so I would go for Bykov's 43+3 as the most correct.

Best wishes/Håkan

Re: Bell P-39 top ten ace list
 

Good morning Håkan,

would you say that wrong figures in the award documents are the main reason for the wrong totals of Soviet aces which can be read in older books ?

Have a nice Wednesday,

Michael

Re: Bell P-39 top ten ace list
 

I think it's a combination of wrong info compiled in wartime, propaganda, a mix between claims, shared, probables etc. As I stated above, this is quit common in both RAF and VVS records.

//Håkan

Re: Bell P-39 top ten ace list
 

Good morning Håkan,

luckily, those 3+3sh claims that possibly miss would not change Pokryshkin's rank within the P-39 top ace list.

Have a nice weekend,

Michael

Re: Bell P-39 top ten ace list
 

Good morning Gentlemen,

I just finished reading "Reprise de la lutte sur P-39" by David Méchin. I did not know before that this excellent WW1 aviation expert has written WW2 articles, too. I learned that the French scored a few kills while protecting Mediterranean convois from bases in North Africa.

It seems to me like the P-39 scored on at least four continents:

• Europe: Grigorii Rechkalov (Ukraine)
• Africa: Hugh Dow (Tunisia)
• Asia: ?
• Australia & Oceania: William McDonough (Papua New Guinea)
• America: Arthur Rice (Aleutians)

Can anybody tell me the name of a pilot who scored over the continent of Asia in a P-39 ?

Cheers,

Michael

Re: Bell P-39 top ten ace list
 

I am no aware of P-39 serving in the CBI but P-63 were used (and I believe scored) against the Japanese in August 1945.