Question about Me 262 Wnr. 900284

[Frank Olynyk]

Mikail Bykov's recently published (January) book, Vse Asy Stalina (All Stalin's Aces) does not list any Me-262 victories for Kozhedub. The entry for February 17, 1945 is for an Me-109, with a footnote (which I cannot read) referencing the Me-262 and the date of February 19, 1945. Perhaps one of our Russian readers can translate the footnote.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[Ota Jirovec]

Hello Frank,

The translation of the footnote from Mikhail Bykov´s latest book should roughly read as follows: "in operational documents listed as "Me 109 with jet engine", subsequently changed to Me 262. The date of the combat recorded erroneously as 19 February 1945."

If I recall correctly, there were some quite long discussions about Kozhedub´s Me 262 claim on one of the Russian aviation history forums in the past, where Mikhail Bykov also posted the excerpt from 176 GIAP operational summary describing Kozhedub´s combat with "Me 109, presumably with a jet engine" on 17 February 1945. I will try to find it somewhere in my files and post it here as well. Or perhaps some of our Russian friends can help?

Hope this helps a little,

Ota

[Stig Jarlevik]

Frank/Ota

Thanks, and interestingly a fourth date now enters the equation.
The 19th was obviously the date Kozhedub himself preferred....

Would be interesting to know if the 17th is final!

Cheers
Stig

[ChristianK]

Could it have been a He 162? These do look more like a "Bf 109 with jet engine" than a Me 262, if you ask me. Also this would kina solve the location issue - as Küstrin is rather close to Parchim (I./JG 1 base in February 45) or Rostock (Heinkel factory)...

Just my two cents,
Christian

[Nikita Egorov]

In fact, February 17 is the date when "Bf-109 presumably with jet engine" was mentioned in the operational report of 176 GIAP. Major Titorenko and Kozhedub shot down two of such Bf-109s in combat between 11.20-12.10 (M.T.). Kozhedub's victim crashed east of Alt-Friedland.

[jarecki71]

HI,
Gentlemen, thank you for your help in solving this puzzle.
So the report Kozedub is not a lot of accuracy, I'm sure this is not the Me 262 According to me very little reliable ....
Reviewing the reports actually bears the date 17.02 which talks about shooting down a Bf 109, but some time later was credited with a pen that this airplane has a rocket engine.
So you can talk about He 162 it still makes sense ....
Best Regards,
Jarek

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Nikita

I will change the date accordingly

Cheers
Stig

[Frank Olynyk]

Nikita,
Interestingly, All Stalin's Aces does not list a victory for Dmitriy Stelanovich Titorenko (assuming that is the Maj. Titorenko you noted, but DS Titorenko was in 19 IAP/176 GIAP for the entire war). In 1945 he is shown with 2 victories, both FW-190s.

Enjoy!

Frank.