[Nokose]

Thank you everyone for your comments. I don’t write as a profession, as you can see. I am more of a “source contributor” and was given the honor of being a co-author in a future work by Brian Cull. Kirche, I’ll contact you by email. For anyone that doesn’t know Kirche, he’s a member of Russian recovery team, they locate both German and Soviet aircraft to recover the remains of the aviators so that they can be given the proper burial that they deserve.

9 August 1942

In the sky above the positions of the Soviet 31st Army in the area of the Vazuza River, were 5 Yak-1 from the 163 IAP led by Kapitan Viktor Volkov, having taken off at 05:45 (MT). Approaching the Soviet pilots observed up to 20 Ju 88 in groups of 6 - 8 aircraft under escort of three groups of 4 Bf 109 F. The Soviet pilots moved to attack these formations. Kapitan Volkov’s group attacked the 1st group of 8 Ju 88 with its 8 Bf 109 F escort. Kapitan Volkov and Starshiy Leytenant Sergey Katyukov as a pair reported shooting down a Ju 88 to the south of Zubtsov. Kapitan Volkhov was attacked by 2 Bf 109 from above on the front from the sun. He was reported to have been attacked at the same time from below to the rear. The engine caught fire and Kapitan Volkov parachuted over Soviet territory. From the German side the victor appears to be Feldwebel Heinrich Wefers of 4./JG 54 who shot down a Yak-1 (25) at 05:19 in this area.

Leytenant Aleksandr Nikulina was attacked by 2 Bf 109 from the rear above and left with a smoking aircraft. His fate was listed as missing. From the German side this was possibly Hauptmann Heinrich Jung of 4./JG 54 claiming a Yak-1 (25) at 05:20 to the southwest of Zubtsov.

Leytenant Ivan Sharoyko and Starshiy Leytenant Arkadiy Pokroskin met in air battle with 4 Bf 109 F, as a result Pokrovskin’s fighter was damaged. This was the possible claim made by Leutnant Karl-Heinz Weber of 7./JG 5, who reported shooting down a Yak-1 (22) at 05:15 to the west of the Vazuza River to the south of Zubtsov. He left with a decline from the battle. Leytenant Sharoyko covered him from attacks of the German fighters. Sharoyko observed for several minutes the attempt to escape by Pokroskin, before observing his Yak-1 tilt over on the wing and hit the ground. The aircraft burned but the fate of the pilot was unknown.

Leytenant Sharoyko’s Yak-1 was damaged and began to leave the battle because of control damage. As a result of the damage, he headed in the direction of Torzhok. He was pursued and attacked by 2 Bf 109 as he continued to his airfield with his burning fighter. As Sharoyko came to the Soviet airfield at Torzhok, he lowered his landing gear and made a normal landing. Sharoyko fled his fighter, which burned up on the ground. The German fighter pursuing the Yak-1, appears from from the location to be Obgefr Herbert Rauchfuss of 4./JG 54, who claimed a Yak-1 (5) at 05:25 to the east of Staritsa. This would be the direction that Sharoyko passed in his flight towards Torzhok. (TsAMO f. 311, o. 0004495, d. 0051, l. 86 Operational Report of the Staff 210 IAD)