New data about the fate of Lt. Smiatek (4./JG52)

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

According to Barbas and JFV authors, Horst Smiatek's fate on 4.6.43 looks like:

Barbas: Luftkampf, FF FSA über See, Moldawanskoje, Pl.Qu.75223
JFV authors: Luftkampf 3 km N Moldawanskoje, Absturz über See, Pl.Qu.75223, FSA 18:20, Pl.Qu.75231.

Despite small disparities, the point is the same: after a dogfight the pilot has baled out over sea (or lake?) and has lost his life.
Pl.Qu.75223 and 75231 are close together but it is a firm land without sea or a lake, so it is uncertain point.

Have just found two records about the event in question in reports of the German 97.Jg.Div.: "18.45 Uhr Notlandung einer Me109 NW Moldawanskoje (in Lw. Flakabt. report "zwischen Moldawanskoje und Russkoje", it is the same place). Pilot, Lt. Smiatek, leicht verwundet, wurde zum H.V.Platz Gladkowskaja gebracht."

So, Smiatek made a forced landing, was alive (slightly wounded) at least until his departure to division's dressing-station in Gladkowskaja, ~10 km from the landing place.

Is it a known info? Strange disparities with the "official" version.

Best regards,
Andrey