? 5./JG 54, Uffz. Erich Kna:bel, MIA 21.06.1944
 

Does anybody know the exact time when his FW was shot down? Was his photo ever published? I have a strong supposition about the name of the Soviet pilot who shot him down (and he is still alive) and I'd want to check it.

The same with Hptm. Herbert Aloe lost at the same day. When he was shot down?

Re: ? 5./JG 54, Uffz. Erich Kna:bel, MIA 21.06.1944
 

Andrei,
according to the book by Hannu Valtonen ("Lento-osasto Kuhlmey", based on Bundesarchiv documents) Uffz Erich Knöbel (FW 190 A-6, "black 20", WNr 530341) was shot down at 09.30 hours (Finnish time) in the Bay of Viipuri SW Koivisto (Björkö). Hptm Herbert Aloe (FW 190A-6, "white 2", WNr 501214) disappeared at 13.40 8 km NNE Viipuri.
Carl

Re: ? 5./JG 54, Uffz. Erich Kna:bel, MIA 21.06.1944
 

Yes, I knew it!

Thank you very much, Carl! That was Tikhomirov, you know.

Re: ? 5./JG 54, Uffz. Erich Kna:bel, MIA 21.06.1944
 

Andrey, according to Valtonen’s book, p. 133 Knöbel’s plane or even Knöbel himself was probably first hit by an Il-2, probably by a rear gunner. According to Knöbel’s wingman Knöbel shot down an Il-2 but because of high closing speed “flow into the firing sector of the Il-2” after which Knöbel dived down low over the water. Because the ongoing fierce air combat wingman could not follow Knöbel after that . Knöbel was last seen at 09.30 at150m height.

Aloé was last heard when he reported that he was in air combat with enemy fighters.

Juha

Re: ? 5./JG 54, Uffz. Erich Kna:bel, MIA 21.06.1944
 

Report of Tikhomirov tells absolutely the same: At 10:23 (9:23 G.time) on H=150m two Fw 190 tried to attack Il-2 shturmoviks. T. repulsed their attack and at distance 150-10 meters with an attack angle 2/4 shot down 1 Fw 190. The plane fell 8 km west of Tiurinsaari island.

According his own words (I interviewed him several times during past two weeks), T. saw how the pilot climbed out of the plane after his attack (tall guy, maybe red-haired), opened a parachute and fell to the sea.

You can see the previous version of interview made by another researcher O.Korytov on http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/pilo...tikhomirov.htm

Re: ? 5./JG 54, Uffz. Erich Kna:bel, MIA 21.06.1944
 

Andrey
thanks a lot for a most interesting link!

BTW I have had difficulties in establishing when in 1944 3rd and 4th GvIAP KBF got their La-5FNs. Can you enlighten me on this?

Juha

Re: ? 5./JG 54, Uffz. Erich Kna:bel, MIA 21.06.1944
 

4 giap AFAIR flew it at least already during Battle for Narva (Feb-March 44). I'm not sure about the 3rd, but I can suppose they both should got new ac before final deblockading of Leningrad in January 44.

That is the time when 3rd regiment became pure La-5 (in the second half of 43 it had one Yak-1 squadron).

Thanks a lot Andrey, very much appreciated!
 

So Thanks a lot!!

Re: ? 5./JG 54, Uffz. Erich Kna:bel, MIA 21.06.1944
 

so was there any Il-2 shot down in that air combat, Andrey ?

Re: ? 5./JG 54, Uffz. Erich Kna:bel, MIA 21.06.1944
 

He say about 7000 flight hour before he was transferred to his unit. It is possible ??? Even if he was an instructur ?