[HGabor]

Hi Folks,
On January 23, 1945 at 14:28 local time, three IL-2s of 5 VA, 12 GvShAD, 187 GvShAP attacked the Buda Royal Palace in Budapest, Hungary:

IL-2, No.’99’ – Makarov - Beloshitski
IL-2, No.’55’ – Turapin - Shabanov
IL-2, No.’83’ – Ribalchenko – Udalov (2 KIA)

The targets were the No.54 and 57 objects (government buildings). Due to the bad winter weather the soviets did not expect fighter attack, so this time they had no fighter escort. (This was a big mistake.) During their attack from 1300 to 500 m, Ribalchenko’s IL-2 fell behind his formation with about 800 m. Over the ‘Vienna-Gate’ of the palace, 4 Fw 190s jumped on the IL-2s. They downed IL-2, S/N: 10841, AM-38F engine No.: 257716, markings: white ‘83’ with the Gv.Lt. Vladimir Ivanovich Ribalchenko - Vladimir Alexeevich Udalov crew. Everything happened in just a few seconds. Due to the low altitude and the populated area, they had no chance to survive. Ribalchenko’s IL-2 rolled over and with a smoking trail crashed into the side of the castle hill. Leader's gunner, Mihail Matveevich Belositski downed one of the Fw 190s, which also crashed in the same area soon afterwards.

This downed Fw 190 could be Fw 190F-8, W.Nr.: 583622, black '6' of 2./SG 10, piloted by Uffz. Fritz Wachtmann, who went missing over Budapest this day. If so, then Ribalchenko’s plane was downed by an SG 10 pilot.

Who shot them down?????
Gabor