Pe-8 Losses

[Pawel Burchard]

Originally Posted by James A Pratt III

During July 1943 4 Pe-8s were shot down by German night fighters. Does anyone know who claimed them? Does anyone have any other info on Pe-8 combat losses?

From report of Lfl. 6 for the night 19/20-Jul-1943:
Abschüße: 12 durch Nachtjäger (davon Hptm. Prinz Wittgenstein allein 7 Abschüße);

According to Russian post-war sources 3 four-engined Pe-8 bombers of 45 DBAD (long range bomber divn.) were shot down that night while on sortie against railway junction Orel by German nightfighters (two bombers from 890 DBAP, one from 746 DBAP).

...and from claim lists (courtesy of Tony Wood)
2138 10 km NO Orel 4000 IV./N.J.G. 5 TB-7 Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein (Heinrich) Hptm. anerk. 27
2150 15 km NO Orel 4000 IV./N.J.G. 5 TB-7 Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein (Heinrich) Hptm. anerk. 28
2155 10 km NO Orel 4000 IV./N.J.G. 5 TB-7 Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein (Heinrich) Hptm. anerk. 29

Regards,
Pawel