Ivan N. Kozhedub, 62 victories?
 

Dear friends,

Could anybody tell me if Ivan Kozhedub really obtained 62 confirmed victories? What does of truth exist in these victories?
Hugs to all.
E. Brettas

Re: Ivan N. Kozhedub, 62 victories?
 

63 credited victories but who knows what actually he had achieved.

Re: Ivan N. Kozhedub, 62 victories?
 

Whats surprising about Kozhedub's claims is that they do not include any shares. Why is that? Shares seem to have been very much the norm amongst Soviet pilots. Even Aleksandr Pokryshkin had 6 shares in his total of 59.

Re: Ivan N. Kozhedub, 62 victories?
 

Jim, I do not know the accuracy of Kozhedub's vicotories claims, but there was indeed an explains for his "lack of share vicotories", it was said that he "never bother about the share vicotories", he only claimed those shot down entirely by himeself, thoes shared he simply let others get the credit.

Re: Ivan N. Kozhedub, 62 victories?
 

In the 2nd part og GPW there was very rare practice when shared victories were credited to Soviet pilots. Appr. in 1943 Air Commanding 'priorities' were changed from 'collective' to 'individual', so the bulk of air victories claimed in 1943-45 were recorded as individual. Ivan Kozhedub had started his combat career in March 1943 and claimed 1st victory on 6 July 1943... The bulk of shared air victories was recorded in 1941-42.

PS. Pokryshkin's total, according documental data, was 46 individual + 6 shared air victories.

Re: Ivan N. Kozhedub, 62 victories?
 

Hi,

according soviet sources(documents as records from regiment, divisions etc) Kozhedub shot down 62(or 63) german planes. On the other hand the modern russian researchers claimst, that e.g. Pokryshkin shot down some 44 planes and not 59+ as officialy known. It is only the state of the documents from russian military archivs. The other question how many german planes realy was downed.
In the second part of GPW it is common trend that the shared victory not often filed by soviet pilots. The reason for this is the soviet granting system of ordens or similars. The personally claims has more weight. Due the Kozhedub start his carrier in the second half of 1943, he did not have any shared victories. The other reason in his case, that from the summer 1944 he serve in 176 GIAP, one of two soviet 100% hunter figther regiments. In this regiments the pilots did not like the shared victories( especially in the second part of GPW)

Best regards

Re: Ivan N. Kozhedub, 62 victories?
 

Hi,

Many German Aces had victories that were never confirmed. In the case of Ivan N. Kozhedub all their victories 62 or 63 were confirmed? Or to this total the victories are confirmed and no confirmed?
E. Brettas

Re: Ivan N. Kozhedub, 62 victories?
 

In Soviet Aviation not confirmed kills were not included in pilot's personal data and not mentioned in any 'personal' documents at all (contrary to 'probably destroyed' and 'damaged' for the Allies), but in unit's operative documents (Regiment's or Division's Daily Combat Reports etc) only. There was 1 cathegory only - 'SHOT DOWN' for the Soviet aces. So, all 63 Kozhedub's claims are confirmed.

Re: Ivan N. Kozhedub, 62 victories?
 

Hi OWL-99,

Could you tell me how these victories were confirmed by the Soviets? Were they reliable, or was there a lot of propaganda in this?
E. Brettas

Re: Ivan N. Kozhedub, 62 victories?
 

There was a system of confirmation, but it's too long to write about it here... There was an overclaiming too, of course - like in any other Air Force.:)