Air War Above Rzhev - Zubtsov

[Nokose]

3 August 1942

05:20 - 06:40 (MT) 9 Pe-2 from 527 BAP bombed German forces in the area of Rzhev. The Soviet aviators reported being attacked by 6 Bf 109. The Soviet bombers made their withdrawal without suffering losses. (TsAMO f. 311, o. 0004495, d. 0070, l. 4 Journal of Combat Operations 3 VA)

07:52 - 08:45 (MT) 6 Yak-1 from 812 IAP led by Kapitan Andrey Efremov at an altitude of 2000 m met Bf 109s in a dogfight in the area of Novoye Semenovskoye. The Soviet pilots reported that they were attacked by a group of 12 Bf 109 F and these were joined by a second group of 8 Bf 109 from the direction of Rzhev. The battle lasted for 10 minutes and 4 attacks. At the end of the battle, there were no Soviet losses. The Soviet fighter pilots did have victory claims to report. Kapitan Andrey Efremov claimed a Me-109 (1) and another Me-109 (2). Other victories were made by Serzhant Viktor Baranov claiming a Me-109 (1) and Serzhant N. Matveev claiming a Me-109 (1). The Soviet pilots claimed a surprising 4 Me-109 against overwhelming odds for suffering no losses. From the German side, no losses were recorded in this area and the JG 51 fighters involved can’t be determined. (TsAMO f. 311, o. 4495, d. 8, l. 234 Operational Report of the Staff 263 IAD)