Soviet claim for a JU 52 18 February 1945
 

Hello,

On 18 February 1945, a Ju 52 of 6.Minensuchstaffel was lost at sea in Libau area. According to German documents, it was attacked by two "Yak-9" that tried to guide it to a Soviet airfield and then shot it down when the German pilot tried to flee. It crashed 2 km south of Libau around midday.

This unit was using Ju 52 with magnetic ring to explode magnetic mines, a very unusual aircraft that should have been recognized by the Soviet airmen.

So I would like to know if such a claim was made by Soviet on 18 February 1945 in Libau area.

Thanks in advance

Edited: I found at https://cmboat.ru/vov18-02-1945/ a Chronicle of the Soviet Navy that said that 3 Ju 52 adapted for mine destruction were shot down that day. So the victors seem to Baltic Fleet airmen... but there is only one known German loss.

Re: Soviet claim for a JU 52 18 February 1945
 

According to "Ultra" intercepts, 19.Feb.1945 at 07:45 four "Mausi" were damaged by two "LaGGs" in the Stolpmuende area. On 18.Feb.45 one "Mausi" was downed by Russian fighters off Libau, 1 KIA, 1 WIA, 3 MIA. It was result of a random browsing of Ultra intercepts from DEFE3.
Soviet fighters had made several claims against Ju.52MS ("Mausi", apparently from MSGr1) during 1945 in the Baltic sea, some with interesting details. For example 18.Feb.45 two Yak-9 (15.ORAP VVS KBF) after killing the tail air gunner of a "Mausi" had tried to "kidnap" the plane (to escort it to a Soviet airfield). After a 5-minutes flight the "Mausi" tried to escape and therefore was downed. Place is given as 2.5 km from Libau around 12.00, Liepaja straight "cleaning ", the only other loss on that area is a crash landing on 3.Febr. near Usedom.
On 18.02.45 Minensuchstaffel 6 of LF.1 lost Ju.52 (Mausi) crashing after enemy fire; Ofw. Peulster (F), Ogefr. Ordnung (Bf), Fw. Wastian (B), Ogefr. Lustig (Bm) all KIA and Uffz. Steffen (Bs) MIA.

Re: Soviet claim for a JU 52 18 February 1945
 

There were two encounters.
"kidnapping" attempt was after 9 o'clock "north to Hela lighthouse", when two Yak-9 saw one Ju 52. They claimed that Ju 52 fell into water east of Danzig.
At 14:30 two Yak-9 during reconnaissance of Liepaja saw three Ju 52 and claimed two of them as shot down.

Re: Soviet claim for a JU 52 18 February 1945
 

Thanks to both of you. It seems that 15 ORAP was the victor then. I found no trace in existing documents for the two Ju 52 claimed later in the day.