Bf 110 over Peremyshl, USSR, on 2 February 1942

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Hello, according to Russian files, the 168 IAP fought two battles on 2 February 1942 against Bf 110s attacking Peremyshl airfield near Kaluga, used by transport aircraft and paratroopers conducting Vyaz’ma parachute operation.

At 1100 hrs (Soviet time) 22 Bf 110s attacked and were engaged in the air by 6 Lagg-3s. One was the later was shot down and its pilot, Major Ivan Demidovich Lukyanenko, but his sacrifice allowed to break the German defensive circle and three Bf 110s were (claimed) shot down.

Four hour later 16 Bf 110s returned and met this time 5 Lagg-3s. Again one Lagg-3 was shot down, the squadron Commissioner, St. Politruk Piotr Ivanovitch Rogozhkin, being killed. This time no claim was done by the Soviet.

AFAIK, no Bf 110 was shot down this day in Russia. The only loss was the Bf 110 C-4 WNr 3811 of II./ZG 1 that bellylanded at Briansk after being damaged in battle and was damaged at 20%.

I know of no claim by ZG units this day, but have little data about them.

I will be interested if anyone has something about this battle from German sources.

Thanks in advance