Attempt to identify Luftwaffe losses in the last 6 months of the war using the example of Mikhail Kuzmin (15.ORAP VVS KBF)

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

2nd Part

18.Feb.45 (Episode 1)
Claim: A pair of Yak-9 on a recce mission to Danzig Bay at 09:02 msk = 07:02 MEZ shot down a Ju52 minesweeper [Ju52MS]. According to one source, Soviet pilots killed the air gunner and attempted to force the Ju52 to fly to a Soviet airfield. After flying in that direction for several minutes, the Ju52 attempted to escape, after which it was shot down and crashed east of the port of Danzig.
German data: ???

18.Feb.45 (Episode 2)
Claim: A pair of Yak-9s on a recce mission at 14:55 msk = 12:55 MEZ in difficult weather conditions shot down one of three Ju52 [Ju52MS] minesweepers that were sweeping the Libau outer harbour in a wedge formation.
German data: Ju52MS WNr 3437 3K+EP from 6./MSGr1 shot down, crew is known (4 KIA, 1 WIA).

19.Feb.45
Claim: a pair of Yak-9s on a recce mission at 09:20 msk = 07:20 MEZ, 8 km west of Pillau, shot down a Ju52 minesweeper [Ju52MS].
German (British) data: ULTRA DEFE3 540 p.459: 3rd Defence Flotilla [3.Vp-Fl?] situation report 1600/19.2: … B) 4 M/S aircraft attacked and damaged by 2 enemy single-engined A/C (‘LaGG’) at 0745 on way 75 between position 2 and 3.

It needs to be verified, but it seems to be about 100 km west of the Gulf of Danzig. However, since the Air Armies were not involved in this episode, a pair of Yak-9s from the 15.ORAP is the only possible option. Maybe there is an error in the location in the German radio.

12.Apr.45
Claim: a pair of Yak-9 of 15.ORAP escorted another pair of Yak-9s from the same rgt on a recce mission over Libau. In an air combat with 4 FW190s south of Libau at 11:40 msk = 10:40 DSZ, Kuzmin personally shot down a FW190, the pilot baled out.
German data: ???

My note: in cases where pilots baled out are mentioned, the probability that the claim corresponds to reality is quite high.

13.Apr.45
Claim: a pair of Yak-9s on a photo reconnaissance mission to Pillau harbour at 10:38 = 09:38 DSZ in the area of Gross Dirschkeim airfield (East Prussia) were attacked by 12 FW190s. Kuzmin personally shot down two FW190s, which crashed in the area of the airfield.
German data: ???

My note: the episode seems strange. Maybe the Yaks attacked FW190 ground attack (Schlacht) planes on the approach for landing.


Any additional info about these cases is welcomed.

Best regards,
Andrey