Ju88 loss 17/03/43, Voronezh front
 

Documents of 269 IAD (Fighter Air Division) reported:

"17.03.43 st.lt Azarov, 19 IAP, in air combat over Voltchansk city shot down 1 Ju88, German plane in flames force landed in Gnilusha area. German crew members were all killed by Soviet ground forces trying to resist the capture."

So if possible to identificate the LW unit then can transfer the crew from 'missed' to 'killed' cathegory... It may be bomber or LR aircraft, I think.

Re: Ju88 loss 17/03/43, Voronezh front
 

Dear Mikhail,
On 17 March 1943, the Ju 88 D-1 (6M + CK, WNr 881161) of 2.(F)/11, with Oblt. Eugen Obermeier as observer, was listed as missing during a flight in the Liman - Petschenogi - Tomarowka area. Cause “unknown”. The whole crew was listed as missing: Apart from Obermeier, pilot Uffz. Roland Stegling, radio operator Uffz. Kurt Joncza, and gunner Uffz. Karl Lippert.


If you have other similar questions, you are also always welcome to turn to me via e-mail. In that way I will possibly notice your requests quicker, since nowadays I don’t visit the TOCH site with such frequency as I used to. You will find my e-mail through the links provided below.

Re: Ju88 loss 17/03/43, Voronezh front
 

Many thanks, Christer!
Seems to be that plane, though Voltchansk is about 750 km to North-East of Tomarowka (near Kharkov) that was the farest point of German crew's recon flight :confused: ...

Re: Ju88 loss 17/03/43, Voronezh front
 

Which Volchansk?

I have a Tomarovka 20 km WNW of Belgorod, and a Volchansk which is a. 44 km SE of Belgorod (and some 60 km NE of Kharkov). I think those are the places we are dealing with, since Tomarovka was in 2 VA's area of operations, and AFAIK, 269 IAD was subordinated to 2 VA by that time.

By the way, you don't happen to know the Soviet air unit which on the same day, 17 March 1943, attacked Zaporozhye Airdrome, knocking out five Ju 88s of I./KG 51 and 3.(F)/121, and a Hs 129 from Panzerjägerkommando Weiss?

Did you know that I./JG 52's 30-victory ace Lt Hans-Werner Schneider was shot down and killed by a La-5 near Volchansk on the next day (18 March 1943)? You don't happen to know which La-5 pilot(s) that claimed one or more victories against Bf 109s in that region on that day?

Re: Ju88 loss 17/03/43, Voronezh front
 

There is 2 Tomarovkas in that area - one near Belgorod, and one near Kharkov, so now I think 'our' Tomarovka is the 1st ;) ... Thanks again!

On 18 March 1943 2 Me-109 were claimed in that area by 240 IAP pilots: ml.lt Gomolko, german plane reported fallen north of Volchansk and st.sgt Terniuk, south-west of Cherniavka. Pilots of other 2 La-5s equipped regiments - 19 and 193 IAPs - had not claimed any Me-109s that day.

Re: Ju88 loss 17/03/43, Voronezh front
 

On 18 March 1943 2 Me-109 were claimed in that area by 240 IAP pilots: ml.lt Gomolko, german plane reported fallen north of Volchansk and st.sgt Terniuk, south-west of Cherniavka. Pilots of other 2 La-5s equipped regiments - 19 and 193 IAPs - had not claimed any Me-109s that day.[/quote]

For sure! 269 IAD was withdrawn to 2 VA's reserve on the same date.

Re: Ju88 loss 17/03/43, Voronezh front
 

Yes, particularly since the focus of the battle by this time had shifted northward from Kharkov (which was seized by the Germans on 14 March 1943) to Belgorod. During those days, there also was intense fighting around the Tomarovka which is situated close to Belgorod. Interestingly, at 1110 hours on 17 March 1943, German Armeeabteilung Kempf was informed that air reconnaissance had detected a long Soviet column - including at least fifteen tanks - on the move south of this Tomarovka.

Thanks a lot for the info on 240 IAP's Gomolko and Terniuk!