[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Hello Monaco,

Thank you very much for your comments.

A general remark about misidentification. Kuzmin was transferred from a fighter regiment to reconnaissance for his outstanding observation skills. Of course, mistakes are always possible, but in this case they are much less likely than usual.

Originally Posted by Monaco

interesting soviet pilot...maybe I can add some to what you´ve found so far:
13.11.44
"Units like 2./SAGr.130 were part of the broader Norwegian-Baltic coastal air commands (Fliegerführer Nord) and operated in the Skagerrak and southern Baltic regions", then using Rønne on Bornholm as a base. The unit lost a BV 138C1 on 13.11.44 missing (100%) according to RL2 III/846 (via http://www.luftwaffe-zur-see.de/Seel...n/Jahr1944.htm).
I´m not pretty sure if this info about 2./SAGr.130 is correct as I so far thought it operated only in the Polar zone, but maybe in the winter months it was ordered south to the Baltic...?

On 15.Jan.45 SAGr130 remained in Norway (see map in RL2-II/3908, already digitized). Maybe it was not entire Staffeln that were transferred to the Baltic, but individual aircraft, given the increased activity of Soviet submarines and the exceptional importance of maritime transport in the Baltic Sea for the Germans during this period. But this is pure speculation.

Originally Posted by Monaco

9.2.45
Maybe: "FW 190A" Uffz. Helmut Johne, pilot, Stabsstaffel/JG 51 – shot down in air combat? The pilot died - 1 VA pilots claimed 8 Fw.190s that day, flak one further.

Since the time of the German loss is unknown, it is impossible to draw accurate conclusion.

Originally Posted by Monaco

18.2.45
Did Kuzmin in both combats describe the Ju.52s as minesweepers - maybe a misidentification with the equally three-engined Ju.352 in murky conditions over sea was possible...
On 18.02.45 13./TG.4 lost a three-engined Ju.352 through unknown cause between Vietzkerstrand and Heiligenbeil with the crew Fw. Hermann Reuschel (FF), Uffz. Johann Baumgart (Bf), Fw. Friedrich Stadler (Bm), Ogefr. Johann Manoch (Bs) all MIA and Ogefr. Willy Lüdtke KIA.

Yes, Kuzmin reported on the minesweeper aircraft. And it would be difficult to confuse a Ju52MS with a ring for non-contact minesweeping that is almost the size of the aircraft itself, especially when observing it for several minutes. Though who knows...

Originally Posted by Monaco

19.02.45
Maybe also a Ju.352 misidentified:
On 19.02.45 15./TG.4 lost a three-engined Ju.352 in a ditching 7km W Pillau (100% loss) with the unknown crew save, whilst Großraum Tr.St. Lost 1 Ju.352 A at Pillau A/D through enemy fire (100% loss), the crew of Ofw. Hebler escaped without losses.

See above. But this contact here was apparently fleeting, and misidentification maybe more likely.

Originally Posted by Monaco

12.04.45
"Bf 109G" Hptm. Günther Schack, corps of group I./JG 51 – shot down by Yak-3 of the Normandy-Niemen regiment? Pilot alive, facial burns - Schack was prob. s/d in combat with GC Normandie, pilots of 1 VA claimed 14 victories over Fw.190/Bf.109s.

Same comment as for 9.2.45

Best regards,
Andrey