IL-2 vs JG 54.

[Andrey Dikov]

Tikhomirov had shot down Knoebel. Read more in my chapters of Darabkin's second volume of "Istrebiteli-2".

[Evgeny Velichko]

Yes, Andrey, we know it.

We are talking about Aloe, who was shot down by fighters or just "bandits" or MAY BE Il-2 of Chekin from 566 ShAP, N Viipuri, the same day 21 06 44.

Also, trying to confirm or deni 2 claims of pilots of 35 ShAP VV KBF on 24 10 44 over Saaremaa area.

[Frank Olynyk]

Andrey,
I can't find the book you reference on the Eastview website, which I use for buying Russian books (because the site is in English). When did it appear (and the first volume)? Any suggestions on how to purchase a copy?

Frank.

[Andrey Dikov]

They were released indeed. The second volume - in autumn of 2006, the first one - in 2005.

I don't know. Here are the links on ozon.ru:

First volume (Fighter Pillots interviews, vol.1):
http://www.ozon.ru/context/detail/id/2616014/

Second Volume (Fighter Pilots interviews, vol.2):
http://www.ozon.ru/context/detail/id/2853274/

If you haven't seen the volume with Il-2 shturmovik pilots interviews:
http://www.ozon.ru/context/detail/id/2368336/

I've found one link on amazon.com (Il-2 volume):
http://www.amazon.com/Ia-dralsia-IL-...747010&sr=8-29

Probably, you can contact Artyom Drabkin himself or somebody on forum for further information. I think there's his email on his own site: http://www.iremember.ru/index.php?lang=en


Over here the books costs up to 4 USD.

[Andrey Dikov]

Originally Posted by Eugen Gross

Yes, Andrey, we know it.

We are talking about Aloe, who was shot down by fighters or just "bandits" or MAY BE Il-2 of Chekin from 566 ShAP, N Viipuri, the same day 21 06 44.

Regarding Aloe, it's VERY hard to identify the victor, because there were a LOT of claims.

The fact, that the claim of Tikhomirov was identified (with 99% accuracy, imho) - it's a big luck. Navy pilots claimed 7 FW 190s that morning.


Re Aloe - definitely he wasn't shot down by any Navy pilot (by time).

And the army fighter claims I know (via Mikhail Bykov), also doesn't match by type and place.

[Andrey Dikov]

Regarding 24.10.44:

If there would be some match in German records, I would highlighted it in my comments to the chapter.

I almost didn't wrote directly that these claims "can't be verified by German side". Because:

a. I made this interview personally and the text is adopted interview as it is. This genre (it's not a pure research) doesn't let you to write such things in comments (from the moral point of view). I've just 'missed' it, although, as you read, you see that I know the subject well.

In cases when I saw a match, I always wrote it. If not - not.

b. German loss records for 44 are not so accurate as we all would wish.


Personally I think that could be SG 4 pilots, who met with Il-2s - they acted against Oesel at that period. I even remember one suspected candidate, but hasn't it by hand. And again - at that day 8 FW-190s (and 1 Do-24) were claimed roughly at that area.

[Evgeny Velichko]

I understand.