Luftwaffe reports on downed Lavochkins

[John Manrho]

Just my two cents...... in the ranks of JG 6, especially with I./JG 6, there were still a lot of pilots with experience on the Eastern front. Within I./JG 6 several pilots had flown numerous missions with I./ZG 1 in Russia. I./ZG 1 became later I./ZG 26 and then I./JG 6. Also in II. and III. Gruppe were several pilots who had seen combat on the eastern front in other units before.

cheers,

John.

Ps. I am not familiar with difference between La-5 and La-7, so I can not comment on the validity of the report itself.

[kalender1973]

Originally Posted by John Manrho

Just my two cents...... in the ranks of JG 6, especially with I./JG 6, there were still a lot of pilots with experience on the Eastern front. Within I./JG 6 several pilots had flown numerous missions with I./ZG 1 in Russia. I./ZG 1 became later I./ZG 26 and then I./JG 6. Also in II. and III. Gruppe were several pilots who had seen combat on the eastern front in other units before.

Hi John,

IIRC you write the book about JG6 ? Could I ask you, when it appears ?

My assumption was, that after more then one year figthing in the west, not many pilots survive from I./ZG1... But I suppose you are better inform as me

Best regards

[John Beaman]

Kjetil and Franek:

Let’s keep it nice and on subject which is Luftwaffe reports on LaGGs. If you keep up the personal attacks, I’ll lock the thread.

[Kjetil Aakra]

John, certainly understand your concern and the discussion with Franek regarding the merits of Soviet aircraft is over from my side.

I do have something else however, that may add to the original disucssion.

According to Soviets pilots Luftwaffe fighter often stayed at high altitude in the last months of the war, refusing to engage Soviet fighters low down in dogfights, often to the frustration of the latter (since the high-altitude perfomance of their Lavochkin wa snot as good as the Germans, reportedly). And I suspect that if they did engage it was the usual hit-and-run tactic
leaving little time to gain an impression of the opponent's aircraft. This could be one reason why the reports often refer only to "generic" La-5s.

Kjetil

[kalender1973]

Hi all,

I suppose, we have hier one very simple explanation. All pilots from all air forces could not really correct identify there opponents. Why we discuss about La's ?? The same issue was with P-47C/D or P-51B/C if we look in Tony Wood's list. The same issue is with identity of german planes. E.g. all Fw-190 for soviet pilot were "foker" FW-190 and they never report about Fw-190A,F,G etc. The same story with Bf109...

The report from JG6 astonished me personally, because I suppose, it is unable to distinguish both type, if you don't take a seat on the chair

Regards

[Franek Grabowski]

John
There was a question about difference between La-5FN and La-7 and I answered it as best as I could. This, together with details of Lend-Lease aircraft, is a widely available info, eg. in MBI monographs or Red Stars series.

Igor
There are reports noting either Me 109F or G, but otherwise your comment is spot on.