The Defeat of Gladiators, 29 II 1940

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Hi
Alex
this combat of D.XXI+Gladiator v. 3 I-16 (including one piloted by Miasicz who claimed 2 biplanes then) was on the morning not on the 12.00-12.15.


The next battle was on 12.00-12.15 Finnish time when the Soviet had come with two formation one 11 fighters, second 12 fighters (mixed 17 I-16 + 6 I-153). Soviet had got Finns during take off (in the mid air) - incredible luck. Finns got info about coming 21 or 12 Soviet bomber so they took off to get them. In fact there were fighters, which had come on the base founded on the morning by Miasicz reccon unit.

Finns had claimed 8 victories later reduced to only 2 (and confirmed)
After this battle Finns had changed airbase (on 1 March, very early overflown to Lemi south-west to Roukolahti)

Regards
Mirek W