Sergey Sergeev clarifies the information
In March 2018, there was a clarification in the press:
"the plane was piloted by Soviet pilot Nikolai Semenovich Krayniy. During the Kerch-Eltigen landing operation on November 15, 1943, the fighter was shot down by the Germans. The pilot managed to splash down and get out of the sinking plane on an inflatable rubber boat. Saved Nicholai Krayniy his fellow soldier, countryman and best friend Alexander Dmitrievich Karpov. Returning from combat mission, Alexander Karpov learned that the plane of Nicholai Krayniy was an hit. Karpov volunteered to find a colleague. Flying over the Kerch Strait, he found him, drifting on a rubber boat, and sent him a rescue boat.
After five months, in April 1944, history almost repeated itself. "During the liberation of the Crimea, Nikolai Was shot down for the second time. He splashed again, this time 15 kilometers from Cape Tarkhankut. Find Nicholai Krayniy again instruct his friend Alexander Karpov". Karpov again found his friend. While simultaneously he to shoot down a German seaplane, . Soviet rescue boat, sent to the aid of Nicholai Krayniy, eventually saved the pilot and simultaneously captured four Germans."
https://crimea.ria.ru/society/20180323/1114089511.html
These are the pilots of the 3 air squadron 30 reconnaissance regiment VVS ChF