For Russian experts:R-5 lost 08/12/43

[focusfocus]

Hi guys
I note that 15 R-5 (U-2?)!!!!,to which must be added 3 LaGG,were claimed shot down near Newel on 8/12/43.
Four others!on 9/12/43,always near Newel!

Really hard to believe.
If losses there were:
1) how much in reality?
2) what units?

Thank's in advance
Michel

[Nikita Egorov]

08.12.1943 314 NBAD lost 13 U-2s ( 389 NBAP - 6 U-2, 390 NBAP - 4 U-2, 391 NBAP - 3 U-2). 105 GOAP GVF - 2 U-2.

09.12.1943 314 NBAD lost five U-2s to German fighters, 389 and 390 NBAPs two each and one reported lost in 391 NBAP.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

The interesting part is that all these claims were made in daylights, while most Soviet units were supposed to fly night harrassement missions.

On this date, Soviet units in the area were pushing through the boundary of Army Groups Center and North. One explanation could be that due to bad logistics, all U-2 available were asked to bring supplies to forward units (I know one such case in Crimea in late 1943).

All claims were made by II./JG 5, that left Finland only some days before. Maybe there were few/no German fighters in the area before its arrival, and so the U-2s could be used in daylight. It would be interesting to know why these kills stopped after 9 December: did Soviet stop using it in daylight, escort them (or provide better escort) or was II./JG 5 used somewhere else ?

One last comment: JG 5 had often been cited for heavy overclaiming (and certainly did some in the north), but here 19 claims for 20 know losses in two days is certainly very good (even if some of the Soviet losses might have been for other causes).

[focusfocus]

HO?HO? I am quite impressed by the accuracy of the claims and Russian losses! it's quite exeptional
And for the LaGG(or other type),it's identical?

Michel