Rall's Claims List

[Tom Semenza]

Looking through Günther Rall's claims list, which was published as an appendix to his book "Mein Flugbuch: Erinnerungen 1938-2004," I discovered that claim no. 69 is missing. Nos. 67 & 68 were on 6.09.42 and no. 70 on 7.09.42, so there is not even a day missing in between.

Does anyone have any insight on the missing claim?

Thanks,

Tom

[Christer Bergström]

No problem. I know from a most certain source that he scored his 69th against a LaGG-3 and his 70th against a Pe-2 during the same combat on 7 September 1942. (Through an unfortunate coincidence, both these claims are missing in Tony Wood's Luftwaffe claims list.) I'll present this particular source in "Black Cross/Red Star", Vol. 3.

As you will see in "Black Cross/Red Star", Vol. 3, these claims can be verified with Soviet sources. The aircraft belonged to 366 BAP(Pe-2) and 790 IAP (LaGG-3). 790 IAP’s commissar, Batalyonnyy Komissar Fedosiy Dubkovskiy, was killed.

(In total, the operations on 7 September 1942 cost 219 BAD a loss of eight LaGG-3s and three Pe-2s. Politruk Sapurnov was made scapegoat for this setback, and was court-martialled. Okay, now I can't copy more from the mansucript of "Black Cross/Red Star", Vol. 3. It will be published this summer by Eagle Editions - see the previews of some page layout on their website:

http://www.eagle-editions.com/BCRS.HTM

All best,

Christer Bergström

[Tom Semenza]

Christer,

Many thanks for your reply. I enjoyed the first two volumes of your "Black Cross/Red Star Series" and am looking forward to volume 3.

Best wishes,

Tom

[Jens]

How many kills were claimed by Luftwaffe on the whole day?

[Christer Bergström]

How many kills were claimed by Luftwaffe on the whole day?

Jens, if you mean in the Caucasus combat zone (where Rall was active), both that and all Soviet losses will be in "Black Cross/Red Star", Vol. 3 - due to be published this summer:

http://www.eagle-editions.com/BCRS.HTM

BTW, Rall has written the "German foreword" for "Black Cross/Red Star", Vol. 3. (Then there is one by a Russian airman too.)

Until then, you can read a detailed description of some of the air combats in the Caucasus region in the "Graf & Grislawski" book, which also contains such comparative information from both sides:

http://www.graf-grislawski.elknet.pl/index.htm

All best,

Christer Bergström

[Nikita Egorov]

Originally Posted by Christer Bergström

As you will see in "Black Cross/Red Star", Vol. 3, these claims can be verified with Soviet sources. The aircraft belonged to 366 BAP(Pe-2) and 790 IAP (LaGG-3). 790 IAP’s commissar, Batalyonnyy Komissar Fedosiy Dubkovskiy, was killed.

Hi, Christer!

For sure Rall claimed Pe-2 of 366 BAP as one of his kills that day. But I have some hesitations concerning Dubkovskiy. I think Rall's victim belonged to 926 IAP, which was through the whole day busy escorting 366 BAP...

Best regards,
Nikita

[Christer Bergström]

Nikita, I have this concerning 219 BAD on 7 Sept 1942:

0639 hrs: 4 B-3s escorted by 7 LaGG-3s of 926 IAP

0640 hrs: 6 B-3s escorted by 7 LaGG-3s of 790 IAP

0919 (the mission in question, when two planes were lost to Rall) : 3 Pe-2s (366 BAP) escorted by 7 LaGG-3s of 790 IAP

0935: 5 B-3s escorted by 7 LaGG-3s of 926 IAP (no Soviet losses!)

1234 hrs: 4 B-3s escorted by 4 LaGG-3s (926 IAP) and 3 LaGG-3s (790 IAP)

TsAMO, f. 4 VA, op. 4798, d. 25, l. 209 - 211

[Dénes Bernád]

Christer, which Soviet bomber type was the 'B-3'? TB-3?

Dénes

[Kari Lumppio]

Originally Posted by Dénes Bernád

Christer, which Soviet bomber type was the 'B-3'? TB-3?

Dénes

Boston? (Boston III)

Cheers,
Kari

[Christer Bergström]

Yes, Boston III.