JG51 Victories

[Nokose]

On going through one of my notebooks of material while researching JG 54, I ruled the following to claims out of their tally. So I looked into the other units operating in the Staraya Russa - Demyansk region and only I./JG 51 came forward.

27 Feb 1942 (Possible only) on checking JFV 9/I it has 1./JG 51 listing one claim but no pilot, type and no location but the time of 15:10. I know that when more then one pilot made a claim for the plane sometimes it was just awarded to the unit and not a pilot or it could be that the pilot's claim was just lost to history. On this day the reconnaissance Pe-3 of 321 ORAE flown by Lt. Mikhail Alekseevich Voronshchikov and crew were listed as MIA. Yes, there is also the possibility that they were shot down by AAA.

03 Feb 1942 (Possible) SW of Staraya Russa
LaGG-3 38 IAP flown by St.Lt. Mikhail Nikitovich Zhukov (7 victory ace) was shot down in a dogfight by two Bf 109 and Zhukov was WIA his fighter crashing. Again going to JFV 9/I the unit operating on the Soviet North West Front was I./JG 51. Making a claim that day was Lt. Herbert Epphardt 3./JG 51 for an I-61 (1) 13:47 with no location. Also listed as above two claims for 1./JG 51 with no pilot. type and location but times 13:57 and 15:07.

[Nick Hector]

Hi Michael,

www.allaces.ru tells us that Vasili Nikitovich Suetin of 521 IAP was KIA this date. Is he also a likely opponent to these claims?

Nick