Soviet P-63 pilot, escaping with He 111 w.V1(s)

[Ruy Horta]

At Ubi's IL2 Sturmovik forum there was an interesting story upon which some of you might be able to shed further light before I try to reinvent the wheel.

To quote:

The Russian pilot that captured He-111 with V-1 and escaped from the German prison was shot down on P-63C near Koenigsberg and captured by German troops (modern Kaliningrad). Last year in German was TV film about this story. This pilot still alive.

The TV bit should indicate quite some exposure.

This version of the story indicates hostilities between Germans and Soviets, German control of Koenigsberg (or at least part there of) and the use of King Cobra's.

Of course the escape in a V1 launcher Heinkel is icing on the cake!!

[Franek Grabowski]

Ruy
This recalls old Russian jokes about Radio Yerevan.
A group of Soviet POWs escaped from Peenemuende on He 111 and crashed behind own lines. All of them were sent to filtration camps and then to ordinary camps as traitors (standard procedure for POWs), only part of them surviving the latter. I do not remeber their names, date nor other details but perhaps our Russian friends can fill the gap.
Unless proven by documents or photos, service of P-63s on the eastern front should be considered a myth to say the least.

[Josh Osborne]

According to Wikipedia, the "evidence" that p-63 saw service on the eastern front was identification by pilots and flak crews (no official reports or photos) and the memoirs of "a member of Pokryshkin's squadron who published his memiors in the '90s". I have no idea who this pilot would be, if these memoirs are reliable, or if they are even available in English.

About the story of a group of escaped POWs and the He 111: if it was real, wouldn't there be several feature motion pictures made by now? This story makes the Great Escape seem like a stroll in the park.

[MB]

Originally Posted by Franek Grabowski

Ruy
A group of Soviet POWs escaped from Peenemuende on He 111 and crashed behind own lines. All of them were sent to filtration camps and then to ordinary camps as traitors (standard procedure for POWs), only part of them surviving the latter. I do not remeber their names, date nor other details but perhaps our Russian friends can fill the gap.
Unless proven by documents or photos, service of P-63s on the eastern front should be considered a myth to say the least.

That was famous Mikhail Devyatayev's escape. He was, as I remember, the sole aviator in that group of POWs. Devyatayev was former Airacibra pilot of 104 Gv.IAP from Pokryshkin's 9 Gv.IAD.

BTW, the He111, on what they escaped, REALLY was a V1 launcher!

[Ruy Horta]

Originally Posted by MB

That was famous Mikhail Devyatayev's escape. He was, as I remember, the sole aviator in that group of POWs. Devyatayev was former Airacibra pilot of 104 Gv.IAP from Pokryshkin's 9 Gv.IAD.

BTW, the He111, on what they escaped, REALLY was a V1 launcher!

Fascinating, thanks!

[marsyao]

Originally Posted by Franek Grabowski

Ruy
This recalls old Russian jokes about Radio Yerevan.
A group of Soviet POWs escaped from Peenemuende on He 111 and crashed behind own lines. All of them were sent to filtration camps and then to ordinary camps as traitors (standard procedure for POWs), only part of them surviving the latter. I do not remeber their names, date nor other details but perhaps our Russian friends can fill the gap.
Unless proven by documents or photos, service of P-63s on the eastern front should be considered a myth to say the least.

Not exactly Franek, that Soviet pilots (forget his name) was sent to prison because no one believe his story, "what ? you just saw a airplane on the airport, and you just aboard it and flew to ourside, come on ! You German master should give you a more credible cover story !", however he was released after the capture German documents verify his story, later he became a test pliot and was award Gold star of Hero of Soviet Union in 50's

[marsyao]

Originally Posted by Josh Osborne

According to Wikipedia, the "evidence" that p-63 saw service on the eastern front was identification by pilots and flak crews (no official reports or photos) and the memoirs of "a member of Pokryshkin's squadron who published his memiors in the '90s". I have no idea who this pilot would be, if these memoirs are reliable, or if they are even available in English.

About the story of a group of escaped POWs and the He 111: if it was real, wouldn't there be several feature motion pictures made by now? This story makes the Great Escape seem like a stroll in the park.

Josh Osborne, that incident actually was simple than thought,Mikhail Devyatayev managed to disguised his pilot identidy in POW camp, German in the POW camps did not he could fly an airplane, and he was sent to an island as a labor to build and maintain the German airport, one day, when he and other 9 Soviet POWs found a He-111 on the runway when they were working, and there were no Germans around, so that Devyatayev and his fellows quicky take a vote and decide to take the risk( a risk indeed, Devyatayev was a fighter pilot, never flew a mulit-eninge airplane before !), then they simply lined up, climbed into the He-111, start the engine and took off, Germans realised what was happening only too late, and before the Flak could open fire, they were gone.
In this case, I do not blame those NKVD guys found hard to believe Devyatayev's story

[Josh Osborne]

Originally Posted by marsyao

Not exactly Franek, that Soviet pilots (forget his name) was sent to prison because no one believe his story, "what ? you just saw a airplane on the airport, and you just aboard it and flew to ourside, come on ! You German master should give you a more credible cover story !", however he was released after the capture German documents verify his story, later he became a test pliot and was award Gold star of Hero of Soviet Union in 50's

Marsyao, the suspicious circumstances of the escape certainly didn't help, but all former Soviet POWs went to the gulag after the war, since Stalin considered them "contaminated" by "western influences". Even members of the Lucy spy ring, who did more than anyone to help the Soviets win the war, were sent to the gulag.

[Franek Grabowski]

Indeed. I had a chance to ask a question to Baltic Fleet ace Golubyev, who was downed, wounded and taken POW. Asked about his treatment after the return to the SU, he just wryly commented - it was a bitter time.
Some people tend to show SU as a pretty ordinary country led by similar rules as any other. Well, their choice but there are small differencies.

[Andrey Dikov]

2 Josh and Franek

You're just repeat a traditional stereotypes.


>but all former Soviet POWs went to the gulag after the war,

Could you please give us the examples at least?

Devyatayev wasn't sent to any gulag camp ever. Soviet POWs were being sent to filtration camps, where their cases were investigated. Usually such filtration procedure lasted for 1-3 months. The bulk of POWs successfully survived it and were released (including Devyatayev). I know many who returned to their units after the war.

(The fate of former Hiwi and ROA members was poor, though, of course).

The life of former Soviet POW wasn't easy in SU after the war (usually they had troubles to take a job or in career), but that wasn't equal to gulag camps.


> since Stalin considered them "contaminated" by "western influences".

No comments.


>Indeed. I had a chance to ask a question to Baltic Fleet ace Golubyev, who was downed, wounded and taken POW. Asked about his treatment after the return to the SU, he just wryly commented - it was a bitter time.

Franek, could you please to tell what Golubev you are talking about?

Vasiliy Fyodorovich Golubev?


>Some people tend to show SU as a pretty ordinary country led by similar rules as any other. Well, their choice but there are small differencies.

May I reasseble your sentence?:
"Some people tend to show SU as ugly evil country led by awful rules... Well, their choice but there are small differencies."

There's nothing black or white in history.