Hubert Strassl 03 Jul 1943

[Nokose]

I found this for the Soviet losses for the 03 Jul 1943 at 18:35 (Moscow) Yak-7 (# 3483) fuselage # "23" Ml. Lt. Aleksey Ivanovich Samokhin of the 233 IAP was shot down in an air battle at Krivtsovo by a Fw 190. I've got all of Priens books JFV 12/I-III. It has on 03 Jul 1943 for Fw. Hubert Strassl 8./JG 51 Il-2 (37) 17:38 PlQu. 35 Ost/64521 at 1200 meters. I've checked all the other JG units both the ones flying Fw 190s and Bf 109s and his is the only one that matches the time and even the location. The only difference is an Il-2 instead of a Yak-7. Could this be a mistake in Berlin's recording or was this a mistake in his ID? I've ran across many misidentified Soviet aircraft claimed by German pilots, example Hurricanes as MiG-3, La-5s as P-40 (P-40s as La-5), etc. Does this seem like a logical confirmation.

[Leo Etgen]

Hello Nokose

One would have to know if there were any additional Russian losses in the same time and location to be certain but going on what you have written I would believe that there is a good chance this was the same aircraft that Strassl claimed. As you mentioned it was frequently quite difficult to identify an aircraft correctly in aerial combat and as both of these were in-lined engined aircraft it is likely that he simply misidentified the Yak-7 as a single-seat Il-2. Hopefully others can add their opinions as well. Many thanks for this information.

Horrido!

Leo

[Nokose]

Thanks Leo. This is the only plane found mentioned for this time and place. I'm not sure what kind of lighting conditions there are for this time in Russia but it probably had something to do with it. Hubert Strassl appears to be very reliable and it appears the type was off in this case.