Soviet P-63 pilot, escaping with He 111 w.V1(s)

[Josh Osborne]

Originally Posted by Carl-Fredrik Geust

I think that the thread below has already come rather far from the original, interesting topic concerning the possible appearance of Soviet P-63 Kingcobras in Eastern Europe in WW II. I do not want to became involved in the unproductive yes-no poltical debate, but would merely want to return to the original problem.

According to a biographical article about the Soviet fighter ace V.S.Yeliseyev (Hero of RF 6 September 1996) published in the well-known Russian aviation journal MIR AVIATSII no. 3/1999 6 IAK (Fighter Aviation Corps of 16 Air Army) received 6 (six) Kingcobras in spring 1945. One of these Kingcobras was flown by Vladimir Yeliseyev (then serving in 67 Guards IAP, which was ex-436 IAP) during the Battle of Berlin from March 1945. As this article (written by Vladimir Ratkin) refers explicitely also to Yeliseyevs´s previous Airacobra-missions misidentification is excluded. The article is furthermore based on TsAMO-documents (war diary of 67 GIAP etc.). In my book "Red Stars Vol.4" I also indicated this use of Kingcobras by VVS in the European theatre, but my remarks seem to have passed unnoticed.
Carl

Thanks Carl-Frederik! This answers a question I have been asking for a long time.

[MB]

Originally Posted by Carl-Fredrik Geust

As this article (written by Vladimir Ratkin) refers explicitely also to Yeliseyevs´s previous Airacobra-missions misidentification is excluded. The article is furthermore based on TsAMO-documents (war diary of 67 GIAP etc.).

Hello, Carl!
Don't know where Vladimir took this data, but THERE ARE NOT ANY 'Combat diaries' or any else operative chronical docs in 67 GIAP fund in TsAMO, that's what I know exactly. In 273 IAD and 6 IAK funds I did not found any references about 'P-63' or 'Kingkobra'... So that fact still very doubtful for me.

Regards,
MB

[Carl-Fredrik Geust]

Mihail,
the explicite references in the article I mentioned are:

TsAMO f. 67 GIAP, op. 519113, d.1; f. 5 GIAD, op.1, d.4, f. 273 IAD, op.1, d.74 and 108. If you did check all these documenst without finding references to Yeliseyev´s Kingcobra, then how did Vladimir Ratkin come to his conclusions?

BTW - congratulations on your birthday!
Carl

[MB]

Hmmm...

f. 67 GIAP, op. 519113 - it's 'Historical Formular', not War Diary

Don't understand what for there is 5 GIAD - different regiments, different front, different corps... Cant found now what are those documents of 273 IAD, will check my records later.

[Josh Osborne]

Another bump for the real Kingcobra thread!

[Ruy Horta]

Made some changes to the thread that may or may not do the trick, depending on your views.

Those who wish to continue with Annie Applebaum can switch to:

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=3195

It may come as a surprise to a few people, but I do not read every post, nor monitor the forum 24/7...