[Evgeny Velichko]

Gentlmen, lets start

Around 12:00, there was an attack of Il-2's of 47 ShAP KBF and 8 GvShAP KBF.

Seems, that 47 ShAP made its attack from SW of Libau, while 8 GvShAP - from NW of Libau.

8 GvShAP lost one Il-2 with crew:
Pilot Gv. Ml. L-t Viktor N. Karev (MiA)
Gunner Gv. St. Krasnfl. Petr I. Gavrilov (MiA)

This crew "failed to return from combat mission", location of loss is unknown. This loss almost for sure goes to Hugo Broch, who claimed ths and 1 more Il-2. 2nd claim is not confirmed by VVS losses, but I dont know how many there were damaged Il-2's during that raid.

47 ShAP lost 2 crews:

Pilot Ml. Lt. Fedor V. Turin (or Gurin), KiA
Gunner Ml. S-t. Vasili S. Pikanin (KiA)

Pilot Ml. Lt. Vladimir I. Zakharov, KiA
Gunner Ml. S-t Ivan I. Pryakhin, KiA

47 ShAp logbook states:

8 Il-2 came under attack of 8 Fw190 and lost 2 a/c. Both Il-2 were shot up by fighters, and crashed in flames in the sea 8-9 km SW from Libau. Both crew killed.

This two losses almost for sure were victims of Stabsswarm (Stab II./JG54) - claims at 11:46-11:48, ~10km SW from Libau, both Rudorffer and Tangermann claimed 2 Il-2 each, in almost same time and location. So, it could be shared victories to both pilots, or 2 confirmed to Tangermann (and 0 to Rudorffer), or 2 confirmed to Rudorffer (and 0 to Tangermann).

After that, Rudorffer and Tangermann continued chasing Il-2 formation and claimed 9 more Il-2 shot down, with actual loss = 0 (number of damaged Il-2 is unknown, but some Il-2 could be damaged by AAA). So, all those 9 claims are pure overclaim.

Note: second claim at 11:53, wich "jumped" far to west, is probably typo of staff cleric.

At 11:54 (when Rudorffer claimed his almost last victory) Lt. Thyben claimed Il-2 (not painted on the map below) in location of first Tangermann+Rudorffer claims. But it is for pure overclaim, as we knowm that both Il-2 were lost during first engagement.

Also, 2 Il-2 were claimed by Obfhr. Ludwig Böes of 2./JG54, a half-an-hour later, and far to west from location. I have no idea, who were those Il-2 (no losses or even other operations in that area on that day). So, seems that both claims of Böes are pure overclaim.



There was a second raid on that day (som hours later), but it is another story.