[Ota Jirovec]

Hello,

Kozhedub´s claims against US Mustangs (and the related guncam stills) are very likely a bogus story "invented" by some less credible Russian authors in 1990s - they have been discussed on this forum intensively some ten years ago.

The fact is that Eighth AF Mustangs encountered VVS aircraft in several friendly-fire incidents in spring of 1945, the most notable date being probably 18 March 1945, when 359th Fighter Group pilots shot down 4 Yaks of 3 IAK (namely from its 291 IAP and 812 IAP) in the vicinity of Mohrin airfield (and suffered no losses to VVS themselves). The 8th AF nevertheless lost 3 Mustangs to Russians in other encounters on this date, at least 2 of them to VVS fighters:
2/Lt Albert L. Peterson, 487th FS, 352nd FG, P-51D-15 44-15369, POW (MACR 13415) and
2/Lt Garnedt D. Page, 350th FS, 353rd FG, P-51D-15 44-15137, returned (MACR 13414) - shot down by two La-5s
(besides that 1/Lt Joe P. Vickery was shot down and killed by Soviet AA).
No Kozhedub´s involment confirmed by Soviet primary sources have been found by serious Russian researchers so far, IIRC.

As far as alleged "Kozhedub´s" Mustang guncam stills are concerned, Mikhail Bykov who has gone thoroughly through TsAMO documents stated that they are completely different than other 176 GIAP gun camera photographs shown in this regiment´s photo album.

Hope this helps a little,

Ota