Soviet Bostons over Kursk
 

the claim: 1943-07-05 0442 71782 2000 5./J.G. 3 Boston
Scheibe (Rudolf ?) Uffz.

the loss: 1943-07-05 Bf 109G-4 19976 schwarz 7 + - 5./J.G. 3
Schütte, Ofw. Josef WIA in Luftkampf over Charkow. Absturz 10 km SW of Woltschansk 100% F

the story:
Khazanov/Gorbatch p. 117 claim the pair Scheibe/Schütte attacked a pair of recon Bostons from 454. bap (2. va)
The Bostons split with one of them diving, the other climbing. German pair also split. Eventually Scheibe had managed to shoot down the diving Boston (crew of capt. Starovoitov MIA) while Schütte was hit by return fire (crew capt. Petrosyan) over Solncevo at 7000m and parachuted, wounded - was taken to hospital.

There is probably no evidence from German side that Scheibe/Schütte formed a pair on a particular mission that should take place around 0400+ (0500 Russian time). Most importantly Scheibe claimed his victim in Pl.Qu. 71782 - area W Vel. Burluk - so definitely different than Solncevo which is N Belgorod (in case of 454. bap Solncevo makes sence as it would be on the way back to their base - Sakovaya). According to German loss report Schütte went down between Kharkov and Woltschansk - which is definitely not Solncevo area, moreover Solncevo was well into Russian held territory so he would probably have been taken POW.
So I believe the Boston attacked by Scheibe may have been a machine from 244. bad (17. va). The area 71782 happens to be on the way to their base (Belolutsk) from Kharkov. 244. bad flew recon-missions over Gruppe Kempf rear (similar to above 454. bap) [Khazanov/Gorbatsch p. 132] - there are no loss reports for 244. bad.

Can anybody provide additional information on above events?

Kind regards,
Pawel

Re: Soviet Bostons over Kursk
 

Hi Pawel,

unfortunatelly I do not have further info on this event, but the 244. BAD had 3 BAPs, as 260th, 449th and 861st BAP, all used Douglas A-20 versions. Have you checked the mission logs for these units? I am also looking for information on lost 244. BAD Bostons on the 3 following days: January 14, March 9 and 23, 1945. Do you have any info on these? (BAP, pilot, fate, etc...?) What is your source of the history of the 244. BAD? Thanks,

Gabor

Re: Soviet Bostons over Kursk
 

Gabor, I do not have any first-hand documentary on above unit. There are two sources stating they flew operations in Kharkov-Belgorod area on 5th July 1943 - Khazanov/Gorbatch book and memoirs of V.A. Sudets (commander of 17. VA).

Regards,
Pawel Burchard