Hans Hahn/Maximilian Stotz

[Nokose]

[quote=kirche;325598]08/16/1942 49 IAP had one battle in 8.40 (the first flight). The task of the mission is to cover their troops in the Chern-Dretovo area. 8 La-5s (Zeskin-Spiridenko-Ochagovsky-Steshich-Sorokin-Kolomin-Karagodin-Petrov) fought an air battle with 5 He-111, 8 Me-109 and 1 Ju-87 for 20 minutes. 2 Me-109s damaged. Zeskin shot down one Ju-87 (the fall was confirmed by the commanders of the 523rd IAP and 122nd Rifle Division). Zeskin's plane (La-5 #37210105) is set on fire, the pilot is slightly injured, bailed out. Petrov (La-5 #37210225 ? or 37210111) was hit, made an emergency landing near the village of Saburovshchina, the plane was broken, the pilot was unharmed. Karagodin (La-5 #37210104) did not return from a combat mission (the pilot was captured, during interrogation he incorrectly indicated the regiment number, type of aircraft, a/f site, etc.; he survived in captivity; the plane crash site was found in 2017 near the village Vosty).

On 16 August 1942 air battle the La-5 was probably a new type fighter to the pilots of the JG 54 pilots. The larger engine was probably why they associated it with the Curtiss P-40. They had been use to seeing the P-40 in the Leningrad sector before being assigned to this sector. The LaGG-3 claimed by Stotz is curious claim as it is listed to the west of Flolowskoye (in Prien’s JFV 9/III) and as west of Grolovskoye (in Tony Woods llisting). Since there is only 3 La-5 shot down compared to 4 claims for “Curtiss P-40” it seems only one pilot either overclaimed or was allowed to share in the victory. The fact that the commander of the 523 IAP was a witness is what brings up the question about the LaGG-3 that Stotz claimed.