[HGabor]

More details on the November 17, 1944 dogfights:

This day 5 VA, 7 GvShAD (130, 131, 132 GvShAP) IL-2s fought in the Maklár, Kál, Abasár, Valkó, Gyöngyös-S, Hatvan area. IL-2m3 (S/N: 12315) of 5 VA, 131 GvShAP, piloted by Gv.Capt. Ivan Vladimirovich Derkachev, Balakin took off for an engine-test flight (probably immediately after an engine-replacement) and failed to return to their base. Perhaps they were surprised by German, or Hungarian Bf 109 fighters??? (Crew later returned.)

IL-2s of the 5 VA, 12 GvShAD (187, 188, 190 GvShAP) fought in the Gyöngyös, Hatvan, Tura, Isaszeg, Aszód, Öcsöd area. 190 GvShAP IL-2s attacked the Gyöngyös area. Pairs of recce. IL-2s flew in the Hatvan, Tura, Isaszeg, Gödöllő, Aszód, Bag area. At Gödöllő-E, 4 km, they were strafing a (military?) train. They claimed 3 Fw 190s, which means: beside the 4 GvShAD IL-2s they were also attacked by German fighters, most likely Bf 109s. Escort was provided by La-5s.

La-5s therefore, of 5 VA, 14 GvIAD were extremely busy this day. At 10:00, at 2000 m, four 177 GvIAP La-5s, led by Gv.St.Lt. Belousov (HSU) at 2500 m attacked 6 Fw 190s at Gyöngyös-S, 5 km. Belousov downed one of them. At 10:03, at 3000 m, another 4 Fw 190s ‘joined the club’. Gv.Lt. Fridman opened fire from 100 m, and downed one of them at Gyöngyös-SE, 5 km. At 10:15, at 1500 m, near Csány another combat, this time with 6 Bf 109s. Gv.Lt. Miheev claimed a Bf 109 shot down at Csány-N, 2 km. Gv.Lt. Bondar fired another Bf 109 from 200 to 70 m, and downed him at Hatvan-E, 4 km. 2 Fw 190 and 2 Bf 109 claims without a single La-5 loss!

2nd battle of the 177 GvIAP La-5s took place over the frontline between 11:50-12:50 local. 7 La-5s and a single La-7 of 177 GvIAP, led by Gv.Maj. Morozov were patrolling, when at 12:20 local in the Karácsond area they met 10 Bf 109s. The Messers immediately formed 2 groups of 4 and 6. The Lavochkins claimed 4 Bf 109s: Morozov, Dogadailo, Zemit and Danishin - each downed 1.
La-5s of 5 VA, 14 GvIAD, 178 GvIAP were patrolling over their own airfield with 4 La-5s and covering their ground troops in the Gyöngyös, Karácsond, Vámosgyörk, area with 10 fighters.

BUT HERE: 1 La-5FN, S/N: 39212821, piloted by Lt. Myakinin went missing!!!!! - Perhaps Barkhorn’s La-5 claim was correct??? (Unfortunately no info on the exact local time and the fate of the pilot.)

Gabor