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Re: Finnish claim for this russian pilot
F. A. Samsonov served in the 49th IAP and was indeed killed in the Soviet-Finnish Winter War on 8.12.1939 but the cause was a mid-air collision with another I-16 when trying to avoid Finnish AA-fire during a ground attack mission near Mantsi (located at the northeast coast of lake Ladoga). Also the other I-16 pilot (lt. P.M. Kozhakin) was killed.
Geust 2011: Red Stars 7. The Winter War in the air, p. 198. Very well-researched and detailed book about the Red Army Air Force in the Winter War based on intensive study of Soviet air unit records. If any interest on the topic, highly recommended.
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