Nikolay Ivanovich Shmelkov
 

Hello everybody,

I'm looking for info on Nikolay Ivanovich Shmelkov who seems to have claimed 4 (at least 3 He 51s) and 2 shared flying Polikarpov I-15s in the Spanish Civil War. He later took part in the Winter War and the GPW. According to most sources he totally claimed 18 victories.
However when I search in "Асы Великой Отечественной", I can't find him (I can have missed him since it isn't easy to search in a Russian book for a Swede) thus I believe that in fact he didn't (at least officially) claim anything during the Winter War and the GPW.
Is there anyone who can help me with his claims?

Best wishes/Håkan

Re: Nikolay Ivanovich Shmelkov
 

Hakan,

The book 'Polikarpov I 15, I 16 and I 153 aces' by Mikhail Maslov, mentions that Shmelkov was credited with 3 and 1 shared, later updated to 4 and 2 shared in Spain. The book also has a photograph of him and quotes his final tally at the end of WW2 as 18.

'Stalin's Eagles' states that he scored 13 in Spain while flying I 16s. Quite a substantial disagreement!

Neither book has details of his activities during the Winter War.

Re: Nikolay Ivanovich Shmelkov
 

Hello Steve,

Thanks for your quick reply.
I have the books you mention and also various web-sources and I agree with you about differences which was why I asked this forum if there was anyone with more info on him (especially since I can't find him in Bykov's "Асы Великой Отечественной").
Quite an enigma!

Best wishes/Håkan

Re: Nikolay Ivanovich Shmelkov
 

Leytenant N.I. Shmel'kov served in 109th fighter squadron of 36th fighter brigade of Kiev Military district before went to Spain.
He was one of 15 first soviet pilots went to Spain in the end of october 1936. He flew on I-15 biplane fighter.

7-12-36 Lt. Shmel'kov, together with G.Zakharov and E.Erlykin, shot down a french civil Potez540 "F-A00".

He returned back to USSR because of injury on 23.1.37.

I will ask Sergei Abrosov about his claims during SCW.

Re: Nikolay Ivanovich Shmelkov
 

Hello Evgeny,

Thanks for your help!

Best wishes/Håkan

Re: Nikolay Ivanovich Shmelkov
 

Sergei Abrosov in his book V nebe ispanii 1936-1939 gody gives the following information on Schmel'kov:

Shmel'kov, Nikolai Ivanovich (1908). Lieutenant, Jr. Lieutenant, Jr. Aviator, 109 Ftr Av Sqdn, 36 Ftr Av Bde, KVO

In Spain from 20 Oct 36 to 23 Jan 37. Pilot I-15. 49 missions. Personally destroyed 4 planes and in pair 2 planes. HSU, 31 Dec 36.

Graduated from KUKS in 1938. Veteran of the Soviet-Finnish War. During the GPW he was commander of 145th Ftr Av Regt. In reserves in 1945. Died 24 Mar 67.

Re: Nikolay Ivanovich Shmelkov
 

Håkan,
The Russian HSU web-page http://www.warheroes.ru/hero/hero.asp?Hero_id=1177
gives following info about Shmelkov:
- born 5.5.1912, died 24.3.1967, HSU No. 25 31.12.1967
- 66 combat missions in Spain with I-15, 4 individual and 2 shared victories
- 1938 commanded 54 IABr (Leningrad Military District), 21.3.1940 Red Banner Order. (I have however not been able to find his task in the Winter war - probably a staff position/Carl)
- in 1941 commanded 145 IAP (VVS 14. Army, Karelian Front) in the Murmansk area, "a number of victories". Later deputy commander of 1 SAD (VVS 14.A), injured in German bombing attack.
- deputy commander of 5 ZABr SibVO from Oct 1942 Commander of 297 IAD Zabalkajskoj Armii PVO
- from July 1944 back to the front as commander of 234 IAD, fought in Belorussia, Poland and East Germany. Shot down by AA-artillery at Berlin. Altogether 18 victories.

- very strange that Shmelkov is missing from Mihail Bykov´s ace book!
Carl

Re: Nikolay Ivanovich Shmelkov
 

Hello Gunner1 and Carl-Fredrik!

Thanks for the input -much appreciated!

BTW - Thanks Carl-Fredrik for writing "Red Star 7"! The best book I've seen about the VVS in the Winter War (at least in English)!

Best wishes/Håkan

Re: Nikolay Ivanovich Shmelkov
 

Hello Evgeny
very interesting, can you tell more? First time I heard that Potez 540s had been in civil register, but yes in F-AOO_ range there were 4. But the French registers had F-and 4 letters, so the last letter seems to be missing.

Juha