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Re: VVS P-39 loss list ?
Hi Folks,
This seems to be a 'good candidate' for the recovered Airacobra, marked with red outlined white '31' on the fuselage behind the red star. (The number '31' was clearly painted on the squared back fuselage maintenance door at the tail, so it had to be from a unit, which applied their markings on the fuselage, not on the nose! 9 GvIAD units were such.)
According to the combat diary of 5 VA, 9 GvIAD, 104 GvIAP, on June 3, 1944 Gv.Lt. Mikhail Stephanovich Lihovid, flying P-39 #31 has failed to return from the combat mission of 7 Airacobras, flown between 18:20-19:10 (Moscow time). He was involved in a dogfight with 3 Fw 190s. This is the last time in June, 1944, when P-39 #31 of 104 GvIAP saw action.
A P-39, #31 flew combat mission again on July 16, 1944, which - I am sure- was already a new plane, receiving the very same markings. Certainly other nearby groups could loose a P-39 with marking #31, but June 3, 1944 was in the prime time of the dogfights in the Iassy area where this plane was recovered, and Lihovid's plane was white '31' for sure. (Later he was KIA in August, 1944.)
Hope this helps.
Gabor
Last edited by HGabor; 12th July 2021 at 16:34.
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