02Apr45 USAAF & VVS dogfight

[Laurent Rizzotti]

My USAAF claims lists show claims this day for 1st, 325th, 350th, 354th and 367th FG.

The last two were parts of Ninth Air Force and flew this day over Germany, 350th FG scored well against ANR Bf 109s over Italy, and so the claims with possible location over Czechoslavkia were done by 1st and 325th FG.

The 325th FG actually fought over Czechoslovakia, as shown by the 318th FS report for this day:
http://www.wingman1945.com/images/rcbsortie281.jpg

All 325th FG claims were made by 318th FS and are listed above. The only claim by 1st FG was claimed by 1st Lt Samuel H Lyons of 27th FS, but I have no details.

But it is also possible that the US pilot realized he had shot down a Soviet fighter, and in this case a claim would not be filled.

Edited: I checked the listing of Luftwaffe claims done by Jim P, and found only 6 victories claims by German pilots: five Austers by JG 27 and JG 53 on the Western front, and a Pe-2 by Uffz. Friedrich-Wilhelm Neumann of Stab I./JG 53 (no other details for this claim).