Re: Air War Above Rzhev - Zubtsov
 

3 August 1942

05:20 - 06:40 (MT) 9 Pe-2 from 527 BAP bombed German forces in the area of Rzhev. The Soviet aviators reported being attacked by 6 Bf 109. The Soviet bombers made their withdrawal without suffering losses. (TsAMO f. 311, o. 0004495, d. 0070, l. 4 Journal of Combat Operations 3 VA)

07:52 - 08:45 (MT) 6 Yak-1 from 812 IAP led by Kapitan Andrey Efremov at an altitude of 2000 m met Bf 109s in a dogfight in the area of Novoye Semenovskoye. The Soviet pilots reported that they were attacked by a group of 12 Bf 109 F and these were joined by a second group of 8 Bf 109 from the direction of Rzhev. The battle lasted for 10 minutes and 4 attacks. At the end of the battle, there were no Soviet losses. The Soviet fighter pilots did have victory claims to report. Kapitan Andrey Efremov claimed a Me-109 (1) and another Me-109 (2). Other victories were made by Serzhant Viktor Baranov claiming a Me-109 (1) and Serzhant N. Matveev claiming a Me-109 (1). The Soviet pilots claimed a surprising 4 Me-109 against overwhelming odds for suffering no losses. From the German side, no losses were recorded in this area and the JG 51 fighters involved can’t be determined. (TsAMO f. 311, o. 4495, d. 8, l. 234 Operational Report of the Staff 263 IAD)

Re: Air War Above Rzhev - Zubtsov
 

3 August 1942

At 11:34 (MT) 2 sections (3 Pe-2 each) of the 205 BAP at an altitude of 2000 m bombed a German motor vehicle column on the road Zaprudnovo - Boguslovo - Aleksino. The Soviet bombers suffered no losses and made no mention of attacks by Bf 109. (TsAMO f. 311, o. 4495, d. 8, l. 251 Operational Report of the Staff 285 BAD).

With no time listed for the mission, 7 Pe-2 from 793 BAP bombed Vasyukovo. There was an attack on 4 Pe-2 by 2 Bf 109 but no losses were suffered (TsAMO f. 311, o. 0004495, d. 0070, l. 4 Journal of Combat Operations 3 VA)

During this time period Leutnant Johann-Gottlieb Engel of 9./JG 51 was confirmed a Pe-2 (1) at 10:36 as a posthumous victory. This would be his last as he was shot down in an air battle and attempted to make a forced landing in Bf 109 F-2 (# 8229) to the north of Zubtsov, resulting in 100% damage and his death. Engel would be awarded the German Iron Cross 2nd Class for this day.

The victor in the case of Engel is not possible to definitively confirm. Possibly, the victor could be one of the pilots of 5 GIAP but would depend on documents of that regiment.

Re: Air War Above Rzhev - Zubtsov
 

3 August 1942

12:50 - 13:50 (MT) 4 LaGG-3 from 21 IAP led by Kapitan Pavel Eml’yanov escorted 5 Pe-2 at an altitude of 2000 m. Kapitan Eml’yanov and his wingman Serzhant Nikolay Kiselev were attacked by a pair of Bf 109 in the area of Rzhev. Serzhant Kiselev’s LaGG-3 went down with the pilot. A dogfight ensued with 6 Bf 109 as the 5 Pe-2 were continued to be covered by the lone LaGG-3 of pilot Semenov. Kapitan Eml’yanov claimed a Me-109 (9) in the area of Manuylovo. Also claiming was Ivan Borodin a Me-109 (4) at Timofeevo. From the German side, Leutnant Benno Gantz of 7./JG 51 claimed a MiG-3 (13) at 12:02. There were no German losses in these areas that can be found in German records. (TsAMO f. 22020, o. 0445247, d. 0006, l. 1 page 42 Journal Of Combat Operations 21 IAP)

This day is far from complete but I will be ending it with this episode. I hope everyone enjoyed and got some use from the information.

Re: Air War Above Rzhev - Zubtsov
 

Thank You Michael

A very interesting highlight of one month in 1942 covering a small area on this incredibly vast frontline.

At least I have enjoyed it very, very much.

Only wish you would finalise the day in question....

Anyway, thanks again :)

Cheers
Stig

Re: Air War Above Rzhev - Zubtsov
 

Michael,
August 3 - in the period 9.00-10.00 two groups of PE-2 128 BAP bombed Rzhev (the five of captain Solopov) and the forest North-East ( flight of Smirnov ?). Just dropped to 6.4 tons of bombs. The first saw 2 Bf-109 near Timofeevo, and the second was attacked by 2 Bf-109 at 9: 30 am - no results.
7 PE-2 793 BAP (squadron Tuzenkevich). 3 PE-2 bombed troops near Vasyukovo (they were covered fighters). 4 PE-2 bombed artillery on the edge of the forest in the area of Bolshoye and Maloye Guzino. Verbatim: "4 PE-2s were attacked by 2 Bf-109s but were driven away by the Hurricanes"
However, the Hurricanes of 157 IAP, that day is not covered PE-2 - they were accompanied by Il-2.

Cover 7 PE-2 in district Rzhev and back in period 12.25-13.45 upstaged 8 (or 7) Yak-1 163 IAP 210 IAD. On a return flight at altitudes of 800-2500 Katyukov, Sharoiko, Arhireev and Gureev conducted air battle 2 km North of Rzhev against 6 Bf-109f. Katyukov and Gureev each said one downed aircrafts that tried to attack their wingmans. Konyahin, Bolshakov and Nikulin were dogfight 1-3 km North-East of Rzhev against 8 Bf-109f. Konyahin attacked from two aircraft from a distance of 100-150 m from the bottom in the back. One of them fell into a chaotic corkscrew. At 13.15 at an altitude of 1500 Nikulin attacked Bf-109f, which came under the tail of the Konyahin; Bf-109 began to descend to the ground and disappeared against the forest.
In the period 12.50-13.50 4 LaGG-3 of 21 IAP covered the work of 5 PE-2 of 527 BAP (komissar of squadron Gorb)

Re: Air War Above Rzhev - Zubtsov
 

Michael ('Nokose'), 'Kirche' and Andrey Kuznetsov

Let me add my thanks to what Stig has written. The information on these combats is both very interesting and informative. It really opens up the air war on the Eastern Front for most of us, especially on the Soviet side.

Please keep up the good work !

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

Re: Air War Above Rzhev - Zubtsov
 

Thanks to you too Kirche

Especially the 3rd seems to have been a very busy day indeed

Cheers
Stig

Re: Air War Above Rzhev - Zubtsov
 

I read every word with interest, thank you.

Re: Air War Above Rzhev - Zubtsov
 

At this time of the 3 VA in the air, there was only one PE-2 (pilot Frolov, 527 BAP), which was doing reconnaissance on the route Belyij-Dukhovshchina-Sychevka-Staritsa - 10.10-13.25. The enemy fighters not seen.
1 VA - 204 BAD did not participate.
10 ORAP and 2 DRAP - no loss.

5 GIAP in this time also not was in the air.
But there is a report which most likely relates to one of the casualties of the fighters of JG51 in the day (Georg Seelmann ?):
210 IAD per period 10.30-11.30 - 6 Yak-1 with bombs (leading major Timofey Kobyilochniy, 163 IAP) - cover Il-2 - bombing of German warehouses in Monchalovo. In the area of Pochigaevo met 2 Bf-109f. Major Kobyilochniy attacked wingman's Bf-109 - the attack is seen, the plane went to the right. Kobyilochniy second attack came at a distance of 40 m to the second Bf-109f. With the first shooting lit it - the plane caught fire, the German pilot jumped out with a parachute and went down in the area of Pochigaevo.
http://etomesto.com/map-atlas_osteur...47&y=56.287416

Re: Air War Above Rzhev - Zubtsov
 

Stig , August 3rd isn't the busiest day... 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 10 Aug are the busy days.
Best regards,
Kirill