Air War Above Rzhev - Zubtsov

[kirche]

Michael,
August 3 - in the period 9.00-10.00 two groups of PE-2 128 BAP bombed Rzhev (the five of captain Solopov) and the forest North-East ( flight of Smirnov ?). Just dropped to 6.4 tons of bombs. The first saw 2 Bf-109 near Timofeevo, and the second was attacked by 2 Bf-109 at 9: 30 am - no results.

With no time listed for the mission, 7 Pe-2 from 793 BAP bombed Vasyukovo. There was an attack on 4 Pe-2 by 2 Bf 109 but no losses were suffered (TsAMO f. 311, o. 0004495, d. 0070, l. 4 Journal of Combat Operations 3 VA)

During this time period Leutnant Johann-Gottlieb Engel of 9./JG 51 was confirmed a Pe-2 (1) at 10:36 as a posthumous victory. This would be his last as he was shot down in an air battle and attempted to make a forced landing in Bf 109 F-2 (# 8229) to the north of Zubtsov, resulting in 100% damage and his death. Engel would be awarded the German Iron Cross 2nd Class for this day.

The victor in the case of Engel is not possible to definitively confirm. Possibly, the victor could be one of the pilots of 5 GIAP but would depend on documents of that regiment.

7 PE-2 793 BAP (squadron Tuzenkevich). 3 PE-2 bombed troops near Vasyukovo (they were covered fighters). 4 PE-2 bombed artillery on the edge of the forest in the area of Bolshoye and Maloye Guzino. Verbatim: "4 PE-2s were attacked by 2 Bf-109s but were driven away by the Hurricanes"
However, the Hurricanes of 157 IAP, that day is not covered PE-2 - they were accompanied by Il-2.

Cover 7 PE-2 in district Rzhev and back in period 12.25-13.45 upstaged 8 (or 7) Yak-1 163 IAP 210 IAD. On a return flight at altitudes of 800-2500 Katyukov, Sharoiko, Arhireev and Gureev conducted air battle 2 km North of Rzhev against 6 Bf-109f. Katyukov and Gureev each said one downed aircrafts that tried to attack their wingmans. Konyahin, Bolshakov and Nikulin were dogfight 1-3 km North-East of Rzhev against 8 Bf-109f. Konyahin attacked from two aircraft from a distance of 100-150 m from the bottom in the back. One of them fell into a chaotic corkscrew. At 13.15 at an altitude of 1500 Nikulin attacked Bf-109f, which came under the tail of the Konyahin; Bf-109 began to descend to the ground and disappeared against the forest.

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.

In the period 12.50-13.50 4 LaGG-3 of 21 IAP covered the work of 5 PE-2 of 527 BAP (komissar of squadron Gorb)