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Re: Soviet Hurricanes - where, when, ...?
Reading some post about Hurricanes, I think you should read (only in Russian) a major Zimin's memories - I istriebiteil - about his personal and commander expirience with this particular plane. It is on the net in Russian.
He was a commander of 485. IAP and quile long his unit fought versus Me 109 F in 1942 of JG 51 and JG 54. This regiment had been not smashed in 2-3 weeks of combat tour, as were fate of severals others regiment with the same Hurricanes, like 439., 488. IAP. More it fought for several months of hard fighting with betetr Me 109 F. It was possible in 1942 in such plane as Hurricanes too.
One thing is the handling quality of the plane
Second quality of Soviet benzine, oil ect - low.
Third, as it loved and many Russian said about Hurricane as a very not good, clamsy plane, horrible and terrible ect..
This thing is last but not least the general expirience and level of knowledge about air combat tactics and skill of use the tactic in many Soviet regiments in the period 1941-42 and even 1943.
Zimin made many "revolutionary" changes in the tactic of his units and quite much improved the training of the own pilots. So his unit could surrvived several months on the front - period IV-IX 1942.
To much time I have read many ungly claimes of Soviet pilots for terrible Allied Hurricane and much worse British and American weapons but very seldom, particular before 1990 I have met in official memories, stories any critics about own knowledge about tactics, own flying expirince, wrong commanders. All what was wrong was from "capitalism" - all "good" were from Soviet side. So ŁaGG-3 (1941-1942) or I-16 typ 24, or typ 29 were much better then clumsy Hurricanes. OK why teh they do not produced them instead of Hurricanes? If were so "good" or MiG-3 ect..
The true is more difficoult, than many would like to see and undrestand. In many cases for horrible rate of losses were responsile not ugly Hurircanes but very low Soviet pilots training and tactical skills on all leverl from the buttom to the top llevel (it means for example the lack of flying in pairs, in fours ect., lack of radio sets) presented in fronatl air regiments - not only there - in the period 1941-1943.
Regards,
MirekW
It is very easy to say it was very bad "plane" and all other was OK, Is it true? I do not think so.
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Mirek Wawrzyński
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