"Normandie" claims over Bf110, 13 july 1943

[jeanba]

Originally Posted by Evgeny Velichko

For this day and area I received following data.According combat report of 303 iad:

14.49-15.47 (briefly, report of 198 shap is large): 4 Il-2 of 198 shap (leader - Kap.Malinkin) with escort of 4 Yak-7 of 172 iap (leader Maj. Vyazovik), mission to attack enemy retreating troops on road Durnevo-Sorokino-Ulyanovo, came under attack of 6 Bf110 from 6 oclock and 6 Bf110 + 2 Fw190 from 12 oclock.

1st pair of Il-2 was attacked by 4 Bf110, 1 of them attacked Il-2 of Kap.Malinkin, but Bf110 was hit by Il-2 wingman (Efimov) and breaked. Another Bf110 shot down Il-2 of Malinkin. 2nd pair of Bf110 attacked Il-2 of Efimov, but breaked because Il-2 gunner fire.

2nd pair of Il-2 came under attack of Bf110's, failed to return on combat missions.

Very interesting account, thank you.
Do you know which version of Yak7 the y used, was it the "bubble canopy variant ?

[Evgeny Velichko]

Originally Posted by jeanba

Very interesting account, thank you.
Do you know which version of Yak7 the y used, was it the "bubble canopy variant ?

Last versions of Yak-7B had such, as Yak-9. Difference is: 7 had 2 UBS guns, but 9 had 1.

[CJE]

Being the author of the book on Normandie-Niémen, I must be fair.
Castelain statement is as follows:
"The sudden dive and the smoke belching from the 110 leads me to believe in a positive result, but being attacked by another Me 110 I was not able to watch it crash".
The claim will be confirmed by ground witnesses.

Littolff's claim is less doubtful, since he watched "his" 110 crash 5 km NW Kstin bridge.

Which one is Bleschmidt's -if any - remains an open question.

Chris