Yugoslavian Fighter Losses 7 April 1941

[Chris Goss]

6./KG 2 reported shooting down a Bf 109 on this day-any evidence of what they might have shot down if at all?

[HGabor]

April 7, 1941 was a terrible day for the Yugoslav AF. As far as I know, at least the following Yugoslav Bf 109E-3 pilots were shot down that day, so it could be:

Adj. Vladimir Gorup (KIA)
Kapt. Mihajlo Miho Klavora (KIA) - WNr.: 2526, "L-26"
Lt. Jovan Kapesic (KIA)
Sgt. Branislav Todorovic (KIA)
Ppor. Milovoje Boskovic

(Also many Ikarus IK-3, Blenheim, Hurricane, Breguet XIX, Do 17K, etc...)

Gabor

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Gabor. Any ideas of the units?

[HGabor]

I have numbers, but not familiar with the proper terminology. I assume: AF, Group, Squadron:

VVKJ, 32, 103 - Adj. Vladimir Gorup (+)
VVKJ, 32, 103 - Kapt. Mihajlo Miho Klavora (+)
VVKJ, 32, 103 - Lt. Jovan Kapesic (+)
VVKJ, 32, 103 - Sgt. Branislav Todorovic (+)
VVKJ, 32, 104 - Ppor. Milovoje Boskovic

Gabor

[HGabor]

On Klavora:

http://forum.worldofwarplanes.com/in...E2%80%94-1941/

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Gabor. From what I can see, there were no Luftwaffe claims this day but one of the pilots seems to credit their protection by Hungarian or Romanian fighters?

[HGabor]

Well, JG 54 pilots (Oblt. Phillip and/or Ofw. Stotz) claimed Yugoslav Bf 109s this day, but I don't know who claimed which one(s).

[focusfocus]

source Sime Ostric

It could be the Bf.109 of nv D.Stojanovic 102.esk. shot down by return fire of a bomber (crash landed "Godominsko Polje" two km.of Smeredovo.)

Michel

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Michel. Any rank and christian name?

[Boris Ciglic]

Chriss,


Are you sure about the date? Could it be 6 April? I don't have Balke's book at hand but I don't recall any KG 2 activity around Belgrade or Kragujevac that day (where the Yugo Bf 109Es operated). All the skirmishes with twin-engine bombers on the 7th were against KG 51.



These are Yugoslav combat losses of Emils on 7 April (from 'Bf 109 The Yugoslav Story Vol.I'):
14:50 102.E nv IIIk Đorđe Stojanović shared a Ju 88, damaged by Ju 88, landed back at Zemun
16:00 102.E nv IIIk Đorđe Stojanović L-44 claimed He 111, shot down by Ju 88, crash-landed near Smederevo severely wounded
17:30 142.E ppor Miloš Aleksić L-10 claimed Bf 109, shot down by Bf 109, belly-landed near Sremski Karlovci
17:30 103.E nvtč IVk Branislav Todorović shot down by Bf 109, missing
17:30 103.E nv IIIk Vladimir Gorup L-5 shot down by Bf 109, crashed near Gardinovci, killed
17:30 103.E ppor Jovan Kapešić attributed claim over Bf 109, shot down by Bf 109, crashed near Beška, killed
17:30 103.E nar Milivoje Bošković shot down by Bf 109, crashed near Kovilj, killed
17:40 103.E kap Ik Miha Klavora L-26 attributed claims over two Bf 109’s, shot down by Bf 109, crashed near Irig, killed


Stojanović actually shot down the I./KG 51 Ju 88 W.Nr.8204 and was hit by return fire. All the remaining fell in combat with II./JG 54.


Do you know the location and time of the claim? Maybe it could be a misidentified Hurricane (although none were lost either to twin-engine bombers that day).


Cheers,
Boris