Amazing Russian Ace?

[John Beaman]

I’m not sure where to post this, so I’ll start in this forum.


I DO NOT want to start a flame war with this posting, just a discussion, with gentlemanly disagreements, if any. So, be cool!

I just finished reading Osprey’s #56, LaGG and Lachovin Aces of WWII by George Mellinger. Now, my knowledge of Russian Aces is limited to the usual, mass-market English language publications, so I apologize if this is an “old” question. However, I was stunned to see the author write of a pilot, Arkadii Sukov, who he says is credited with shooting down Otto-Bruno Lorzer (47 vic), Max-Helmut Ostermann (102 vic. RKT), Herbert Findeisen (67 vic.), Hans-Joachim Heyer (54 vic. RKT), Heinrich Wefers (52 vic.), and Han-Joachim Kroshinski (76 vic. RKT) over the course of a 3-year career.


Is this true? If so, it must be the most extraordinary record of any “Allied” Ace of WWII. The author says the German pilots shot down by Sukov had an aggregate total of 397 victories and 4 RKTs between them. Interestingly, neither Stalin’s Eagles or Stalin’s Falcons has a record of this man. I know they are alleged not to be that creditable, but surely they would not leave out this guy!?