? 5./JG 54, Uffz. Erich Kna:bel, MIA 21.06.1944

[Juha]

Hello FPSOlkor or Andrey
was there any claims by the Il-2s. There are many possible explanations how the Tikhomirov’s and Knöbel’s wingman’s stories can be explained but IMHO the three simplest ways are
a) Knöbel’s wingman didn’t notice Tikhomirov’s attack and only assumed that Knöbel was hit by Il-2(s). From the fragments of the report printed in Valtonen’s book it is not clear how intensively the wingman followed Knöbel’s attack, he might have been making simultaneously his own attack and may have only time to time glanced around the overall situation.
b) Knöbel’s plane was first hit by Il-2 and then by Tikhomirov
c) Knöbel’s plane was hit more or less simultaneously by Il-2(s) and by Tikhomirov.

Juha