Hans-Jörg Merkle

[Monaco]

Has somebody informations about Fw. Hans-Jörg Merkle, 30-victory-ace of 1./JG.52...especially about his last fight. There is a possibility that he was KIA in a taran attack by soviet female ace Litvyak.
See my posting on Allied and Soviet Air Forces forum.

Regards

Monaco

[Matti Salonen]

1943-08-01, 1./JG 52, Bf 109G-6, 20423, 3 weiße, Dmitrijewka, Nach Luftkampf mit Jak-1, diese gerammt. Bruch 100 %.
FF Fw Hans Jörg Merkle, MIA

Best regards

Matti Salonen

[Jan Bobek]

Monaco,

I am searching this incident as well. The area is correct but circumstances and time doesn´t match with crash of Litviyak.

[Monaco]

Hello Jan,
did you have the exact time when Litvyak was lost? Also the source would be of value. Somewhere I read she shot down a german ace in er last combat.

regards

monaco

[Monaco]

Hello Matti and Jan,
thanks of course for your info.

Monaco

[shooshoobaby]

Lilya Litvac was shot down early morning of August 1 , 1943. Bounced by 8 ME - 109s while attacking Ju - 88s. Crashed near Dmitrievka , Donets Basin.
Cheers

[Nikita Egorov]

Not early morning in this case. TW list has no corresponding German claim for Litwyak, I suppose it is not complete for August 1.
As regards to Merkle, he was probably shot down in combat with pair of Yak-1s from 31 GIAP if we take time of combat around 14.35 (German time)...

[Monaco]

Thanks for your infos gentlemen,
it seems that it´s more difficult than I thought at first. I think we could assume that Lt L. Litvyak was lost in the afternoon (or evening) since she was on her fourth sortie that day (165-168).
Nikita where you´ve got the info about 31 GIAP from, did it lose some of it´s Yak-1s?
Like always the soviet documents are missing...I´ve also came upon another incident about which I would like to know more: On 13.03.44 the soviet ace Shestakov was lost in the Proskurov area reportedly in combat with Ju.87s, but I have the assumption that he could have fallen to a JG.52 fighter ace or even rammed the Bf.109 flown by Hans Dammers, who DOW 3 days later. To be sure more infos about the VVS La-5 losses in this area on that day would be needed. Also of interest would be the report of the soviet witnesses of Shestakov´s last fight.
I´m curious what the experts say....?

Regards Monaco

[Nikita Egorov]

I think Litwyak was not able to fly more than two sorties on that day. However this needs further clearance.
I've got info about 31 GIAP in TsAMO as usuall:-)) The regiment recorded two Yaks failed to return from combat that day.
Soviet documents are not missing and for 6 GIAD they are fully complete.
As regards to Shestakov the sircumstances of his death is a matter of future research I hope.

Originally Posted by Monaco

Thanks for your infos gentlemen,
it seems that it´s more difficult than I thought at first. I think we could assume that Lt L. Litvyak was lost in the afternoon (or evening) since she was on her fourth sortie that day (165-168).
Nikita where you´ve got the info about 31 GIAP from, did it lose some of it´s Yak-1s?
Like always the soviet documents are missing...I´ve also came upon another incident about which I would like to know more: On 13.03.44 the soviet ace Shestakov was lost in the Proskurov area reportedly in combat with Ju.87s, but I have the assumption that he could have fallen to a JG.52 fighter ace or even rammed the Bf.109 flown by Hans Dammers, who DOW 3 days later. To be sure more infos about the VVS La-5 losses in this area on that day would be needed. Also of interest would be the report of the soviet witnesses of Shestakov´s last fight.
I´m curious what the experts say....?

Regards Monaco

[Monaco]

Thanks Nikita,
just two more questions: how do you come to the conclusion that Litwyak flew only two sorties on her last day. According to Seidl and Polak she flew 4 which from the number was common at that stage of war (for example on 10.10.42 she flew 5 and after 05.05.43 she was grounded for two days, because of exhaustion); but maybe Seidl & Polak quote the same source which could be wrong.
The other question is about TsAMO. How can somebody get access to it and is there an english translation in existence?

Regards

Monaco