Air War Above Rzhev - Zubtsov

[Nokose]

3 August 1942

12:50 - 13:50 (MT) 4 LaGG-3 from 21 IAP led by Kapitan Pavel Eml’yanov escorted 5 Pe-2 at an altitude of 2000 m. Kapitan Eml’yanov and his wingman Serzhant Nikolay Kiselev were attacked by a pair of Bf 109 in the area of Rzhev. Serzhant Kiselev’s LaGG-3 went down with the pilot. A dogfight ensued with 6 Bf 109 as the 5 Pe-2 were continued to be covered by the lone LaGG-3 of pilot Semenov. Kapitan Eml’yanov claimed a Me-109 (9) in the area of Manuylovo. Also claiming was Ivan Borodin a Me-109 (4) at Timofeevo. From the German side, Leutnant Benno Gantz of 7./JG 51 claimed a MiG-3 (13) at 12:02. There were no German losses in these areas that can be found in German records. (TsAMO f. 22020, o. 0445247, d. 0006, l. 1 page 42 Journal Of Combat Operations 21 IAP)

This day is far from complete but I will be ending it with this episode. I hope everyone enjoyed and got some use from the information.