III/JG51 claims 12.08.43 and 13.08.43

[keith A]

On this date JG51 claimed at least 20 "LaGG-5" (12 by III/JG51), does anyone know details of these combats. I assume that several VVS units were involved. The majority of the claims came in the morning between 4.50 and 5.30 (6) and then 17.32-1740 (4). Locations were Yeln'ya, Spas-Demensk and Kamenka mostly.

On the following day they add 15 more(11 by III/JG51)! 7 of these at Dukovschina. Again which VVS units were involved?

regards

Keith

[Nick Hector]

Hi Keith,

for the 12.8.43, I know this much:

13 IAP, 201 IAD, 10 IAK, 2 VA definitely in action this date, losing pilot P I Gnido baled out safely

It's not a lot, I know, but I hope it gives you a starting point.

Nick

[Nikita Egorov]

13 IAP/201 IAD was in action against I/JG51, IV/JG51, II/JG52, I/JG54 in Kharkov-Bogodukhov area.

1 VA opposed stabstaffel/JG51, III/JG51, 15/JG51 and II/JG54 in Yartsevo-Smolensk-Dukhovshina.

Losses were high, but apparantly Germans mixed the opponents' fighters types on some occasions.

12 August:

215 IAD lost 10 La-5s, five in 813 IAP, three in 522 IAP, two in 263 IAP.
309 IAD lost two Yak-7s in 162 IAP and three La-5s of 272 IAP
323 IAD lost 4 Yak-9s in 518 IAP, three Yak-7s in 149 IAP and one Yak-1 in 484 IAP.

13 August:

309 IAD lost one La-5 in 813 IAP
303 IAD lost one Yak-1 in 20 IAP
259 IAD lost five La-5s and one Lagg-3 in 21 IAP and two Yak-7 in 976 IAP.

[keith A]

Thank you both. It looks like 215 IAD were given a heavy beating. I know that in return Lt Zelenkin of 813 IAP made double claims on both these dates, so it seems a good bet that he encountered JG51. I think he was flying an LA-5 rather than a LA-5F.

Best regards

Keith

[Nokose]

Keith, on looking through JG 51 losses the only luftkampf loss for both days was in the 15.(Span.)/JG 51 Oblt. Gerardo Escalante de la Lastra (WIA). Fw 190 A-2 #0510 in luftkampf 5 La 5, Notlandung, PlQu. 35 Ost/45517, 100%. Then there might be more Soviet claims in the area for Fw 190. Also you have to check for SG unit losses.

[Nick Hector]

Have any specific Soviet losses been matched up with any specific Luftwaffe losses?

[keith A]

Thanks,

The victories on 12.08.43 were at 0600+, the 13.08.1943 were in the evening 1900+. The Spanish staffel on 12.08.43 claimed 3 victories at 0525-0530 so there could be a match.

regards

Keith