FW189 losses August-October 1943

[keith A]

Can anyone supply details of LW losses of this type on the following dates:

04.08.1943 Donetsk area
24.08.1943 Anastasiavskaya
27.08.1943 Marfinskaya
11.09.1943 Karan
03.10.1943 Melitopol

These were all claimed by P-39 ace Ivan Babak and various unnamed wingmen of 100 GIAP.

[Maxim1]

Originally Posted by keith A

Anastasiavskaya

Just a small correction - it must be Anastasiyevskaya.

[Brian Bines]

From GQM - 4-8-43 NAGr.3 Ssrash Luftkampf Fw189 A-2 2376 35%
24-8-43 NAGr.10 Saitalkowa Flak Fw189 A-2 2344 35%
27-8-43 NAGr.1 Anastassiowka enemy fire Fw 189 A-3 125732 15%
Ff Ogef Bonn w ,B Uffz Sturmer w
27-8-43 NAGr.1 Jekaterinowka Flak Fw189 A-2 125217 10%

I am afraid the records are not very clear and the locations are spelt the German way I do not know if they tie up with your locations,

Regards
Brian Bines

[keith A]

Thanks Brian. I am beginning to think that Babak and 100 GIAP are victims of their own hype...

[Brian Bines]

Keith, there may be some GQM losses on later records which I do not have still to come from others on the Forum.There is a total loss on the 2?-8-43 at what appears to be location Kirow-Spas Demensk but I can't make out the correct date.

[gogh]

Hello Brian
27-8-43 NAGr.1 Anastassiowka enemy fire Fw 189 A-3 125732 15%
Ff Ogef Bonn w ,B Uffz Sturmer w

I never have seen a WNr. higher then WNr.189 01 25431
is this not an error ?
Regards
Peter

[Brian Bines]

Hello Peter, I checked the GQM and this is the number 125732 as it appears, perhaps the 7 is a typo for a 2 ?

Regards
Brian Bines

[Brian Bines]

A possibility for the one on 3-10-43 at Melitopol - Fw 189 A-2 NAGR.1 125329 enemy fire, Melitopol, 10% FF Ogef. Wilfried Radtke w, B Oblt Gunther Gatke w. The date is completely smudged but the entry is on GQM report dated 7-10-43 page 6 in case anyone can check on a better copy,

Regards
Brian Bines

[keith A]

Thanks chaps, I am not sure who was wingman to Babak on the shared victories he claimed in 1943, by 1944 he was not sharing. I am surprised that it needed two fighters to knock down an FW189 but perhaps the Wiki entry has it "Despite its low speed and fragile looks, the Fw 189's manoeuvrability made it a difficult target for attacking Soviet fighters. When attacked, the Fw 189 was often able to out-turn attacking fighters by simply flying in a tight circle into which enemy fighters could not follow."

[Maxim1]

FW 189 or "Rama" ("a frame" in Russian) was indeed a hard target for the Soviet fighters, it is mentioned as such in several Soviet memoirs. Shooting down FW 189 was always seemed as a significant success, and not only due to a difficulties in achieving that but also because of all troubles that FW 189 inflicted to a ground troops. "Rama" was one of the most (if not the most) hated Luftwaffe plane amongst the Russian infantrymen.