JG 77 victories

[Nokose]

Intelligence Report #61 Staff of 216 IAD Koysug 23.07.1942 (TsAMO, F. 216 IAD (22046), Op. 1, D. 6, L. 79 (Vkh. 0652 23 July 1942)

At 06:0? in the area of Novocherkassk, two Yak-1 of 247 IAP became involved in a dogfight with 4 Bf 109. The result was that 1 Yak-1 was missing after the battle.
No pilot names was listed in the report. I searched through the JG units in the area around Rostov and only III/JG 77 came near this Soviet loss.
Lt. Horst Marotzke 9/JG 77 Yak-1 (22) 04:55

In the same report there is another Yak-1 loss reported. At 14:32 with a flight forming above the airfield at Kuleshovka had taken off 3 Yak-1 of 247 IAP. It appears that they were probably “bounced” by 2 Bf 109. Once again 1 Yak-1 was missing and again no pilot name was listed.

I searched JG 77 for a possible victor but found no one. The other JG units also had no one claiming at 13:32.

[Franek Grabowski]

How about friendly fire?

[Nokose]

Hello Franek,
I don’t think so as I’m starting to look at the next day report. Anyway it would seem that a section of Yak-1 taking off from a Soviet airfield would be seen by their own pilots. It could be a quick bounce and leave, without seeing an actual crash by the Germans. My looking into JG 77 hasn’t been a priority. Most of the other claims by JG 52 and JG 3 were not in that area. With the searches of JG 54 that I looked into there was some clear “kills” that did not show up on German scores, probably either from no witness of the crash site or lost records. There were some JG 54 “experts” that had their own “witnesses” flying with them (example Hans Phillips).

[@irnimal]

Originally Posted by Nokose

11 May 1942 raid by the Soviet VVS on German airfields at Kharkov.
9./JG 77 Lt. Gustav Blassy Pe-2 (# Unk.) 18:40 PlQu. 61743
9./JG 77 Obfw. Wilhelm Baumgartner Pe-2 (26) 18:42

Both Pe-2 bombers shot down belonged to the 99 BAP. No information on the crews.

This is an old post, maybe you have found further data.
But on the Loss Reports there is only data for one crew (P) Str. Lt. Konstantin Fedorovich Krutikov and (Bom/G) Lt. Aleksandr Konstantinovich Tananushko. They were reported as Mia. No mention of the Gunner.
As for the second crew, maybe they got back later and were not reported as lost.

[@irnimal]

Michael, have you found anything on the claims made by I/JG 77 between 16~20 May 1942?

[Nokose]

Originally Posted by @irnimal

Michael, have you found anything on the claims made by I/JG 77 between 16~20 May 1942?

Brian Cull’s up coming book has the best coverage for I/JG 77 in the Arctic but it’s not simply the German side (Sorry can’t give anymore).

[@irnimal]

I know about the up coming book (or probably books?). Can't wait for it.
But on I/JG 77, the time covered in the book is about the gruppe's 2nd iteration. In January 42 they became I/JG 5.
In May 42, they were on their 3rd life and were flying down south in Ukraine. At that time they were commanded (the freshly appointed) Heinz Baer. He made 12 claims in May. That is what I'm tryin. To find out. Apparently the Gruppe was spread out in several places, from Kharkiv to the Crimea. They were only joined together in one place at the end of the month, in Sarabus A/f, Crimea.
So I`m trying to figure out where exactly did Baer made his claims, Kharkiv area or the Crimea.
From the Loss Files I've been able to find I cannot find enough losses, or any losses (depending on the days) to substantiate all the claims made.
Where his claims were made is what makes me scratch my head. In that time frame, 16~20 May, in the Crimea the push the Kerch peninsula was over, the Germans had shifted their attention to Sevastopol, so the action had subsided, and most importantly the Soviet started their offensive in the Kharkiv area (on the 12th) that made the Germans quickly move III/JG 52, soon followed by II/JG 52, to that area (pulling them out of the Krimea). That makes me think that Baer (and possibly Gollob also, if flying witg III/JG 77) made those May claims there and not in the Krimea.

[kirche]

Originally Posted by @irnimal

But on the Loss Reports there is only data for one crew (P) Str. Lt. Konstantin Fedorovich Krutikov and (Bom/G) Lt. Aleksandr Konstantinovich Tananushko. They were reported as Mia. No mention of the Gunner.

gunner-radio operator Jr. l-t Muravyev Nikolai Petrovich.
Krutikov's plane was hit by AA-fire and caught fire, the pilot landed a burning car on the territory occupied by the Germans. pilot Krutikov and gunner Muravyov were captured on 12.05.1942 near Kharkov. Muravyov escaped from captivity and returned to his regiment and actively fought until the end of the War, although as a result of injuries he had partial loss of vision and doctors tried to leave him behind from combat flights.

[Nokose]

Originally Posted by Nokose

Intelligence Report #61 Staff of 216 IAD Koysug 23.07.1942 (TsAMO, F. 216 IAD (22046), Op. 1, D. 6, L. 79 (Vkh. 0652 23 July 1942)

At 06:0? in the area of Novocherkassk, two Yak-1 of 247 IAP became involved in a dogfight with 4 Bf 109. The result was that 1 Yak-1 was missing after the battle.
No pilot names was listed in the report. I searched through the JG units in the area around Rostov and only III/JG 77 came near this Soviet loss.
Lt. Horst Marotzke 9/JG 77 Yak-1 (22) 04:55

In the same report there is another Yak-1 loss reported. At 14:32 with a flight forming above the airfield at Kuleshovka had taken off 3 Yak-1 of 247 IAP. It appears that they were probably “bounced” by 2 Bf 109. Once again 1 Yak-1 was missing and again no pilot name was listed.

I searched JG 77 for a possible victor but found no one. The other JG units also had no one claiming at 13:32.

I found the name of the 247 IAP pilot that was lost in that encounter on the 23 July 42. Starshiy Leytenant Fedor Astakhov flying the Yak-1 was listed as MIA in the area of Rostov.

[@irnimal]

Yes, Str. Lt. Fedor Ivanovich Astakhov. He had a total of 1+0 Victories (1 individual and 0 shared)