First Yak9 shot down

[HGabor]

Thanks Nick, yes, probably that Yak belonged to one of those three pilots. Cheers,
Gabor

[Nick Hector]

Originally Posted by Stig Jarlevik

Can I also echo that ?

Cheers
Stig

See? That's two of us...

[HGabor]

Do not worry, nothing is wasted. Our Aircraft Museum that I belong to has all of my stuff. I already wrote a book in 2013 called: "Bostons in the Hungarian sky and soil". 270 p., full of data such as: dates, crews, serials, locations, markings, etc. for the operations and losses of the Soviet AF over Hungary during WWII. (It is in Hungarian, but pics and charts need no language knowledge.) Cheers,

Gabor

[HGabor]

Erik Pilawskii's Soviet Air Force Fighter Colours 1941-1945 writes that on January 5, 1943 Capt. Ivan Mikheevich Kornienko of 270 IAP led 9 brand new Yak-9s against 15 Bf 109s in the Stalingrad area. After a bitter dogfight 8 Bf 109s and only 2 Yak-9s were lost. If so, these 2 Yak-9s could be the first Yak-9 combat losses after the introduction of this new model in December, 1942.

Problem is that I have absolutely no evidence that Kornienko really flew a Yak-9 on this mission. What I know for sure is that he flew I-16, I-153, (LaGG-3), Yak-7 and Yak-1 during his career, but no record of the Yak-9 model at all. Further investigation is needed.

Gabor

[alessandro bray]

Hi Gabor,

finally possible Yak-9 losses in Stalingrad area early '43. This was my time idea about first Yak-9 shot downed. In many source i have found Yak-9 introduction in late Stalingrad fighting, but i don't now how reliable this statement was.
Thank you!

[HGabor]

Well, the 270 IAP used Yak-9s during the war indeed, but Capt. Ivan Mikheevich Kornienko's personal record does not mention that he really flew this model, only the Yak-7 and Yak-1 (B, I think). Since the Yak-9 was introduced in December, 1942, it is entirely possible that the first losses took place in January, 1943 in the Stalingrad area, probably from the first 2 batches of the production: 01153xx, 02153xx.