7./JG 26 30 May 1943

[Nokose]

While going through the losses of 7./JG 26, I found a strange loss for the 30 May 1943. Lt. Horst Reck on Fw 190 A-4 (# 5802) accidently shot down by a Finnish I-153 and killed in the area of the island of Lavansaari.

Can anyone provide details about what happen?

[christian]

Hi

Reck was the Rottenflieger from Hptm. Kelch and have a fight with four Il-2 und three Lagg-3 east of Lawenssari. Hptm. Kelch saw two finnisch I-153 over the fight. At 05.20 hrs 2 km west of Kap Ustje was Hptm. Kelch alone, Lt. Reck was missing. Fw 190 A-4 WNr. 5802 white 8+.

Greetings Christian

[Nokose]

Once again Christian, Thank You! Now all I need is some one that might have the Finnish side if they were involved.

[Stig Jarlevik]

While it is correct that the I-153 was still in use in 1943 by Ilmavoimat I doubt it was used by LeLv 30 as a primary offensive fighter.
The way I read my sources it was supposed to defend the reconnaissance unit LeLv 6 at this time.

There are no official claims by any I-153 during 1943

The action described above coincide timewise with a mission flown by LeLv 24 (04.30H-05.45H). During that mission Hans Wind and E. Vesa claimed three victories, one LaGG-3 and La-5 over Ystinski and one LaGG-3 over Kreivinlahti.
Unfortunately I cannot locate either of these places on Google Maps, so I can't see if they possibly fit the place Lavansaari (which IS found)

Having said that, both Finnish pilots were flying Brewsters which may have been unusual enough for the Germans to confuse them with the I-153. One would think that a monoplane should not be confused with a biplane, but if you are in combat you don't sit and let your mind go drifting with ID problems.

A case of friendly fire? No idea. Hans Wind was at this time a very experienced pilot while Vesa is an unknown quantity to me unfortunately.

I would say our Finnish friends (if they read this) will have to do a more detailed scrutiny of their records and perhaps first of all locate the two places I cannot find.

Cheers
Stig

[Matti Salonen]

On 30.5.1943 there were only four I-153 flights of the Finnish Air Force. A schwarm consisting of IT-11 and IT-26 of 1./LeLv 30 plus IT-15 and IT-29 of 2./LeLv 30 made a reconnaissance flight from the Römpötti airfield (in Russian Glebychevo) about 30 km south from Viipuri (in Russian Vyborg). It is possible that they have been flying near Lavansaari (in Russian Moshtshnyj). No claims were however reported. Time of the flight was 03.00 - 04.00 Finnish time. This should be 02.00 – 03.00 CET, which means that timing doesn’t fit to the loss of Lt Reck.

Concerning the claims of LeLv 24 Brewsters, Ystinski is a headland 5 km northwest Sosnovyi Bor and Kreivilahti is a small bay 4 km northeast Kandikyulya. Both places are in Russia on the south coast of the Gulf of Finland.


Also one thing concerning timing: As far as I know, the Luftwaffe used always CET and the Finnish Air Force local Finnish time, which was one hour ahead of CET. If the loss of Reck, appr. 05.20 , is CET, it doesn’t fit also with the LeLv 24 flights, which landed 05.45 Finnish time.


Regardless of what I said previously, everything can happen and if you don’t expect to see Fw 190, it is not strange to mix it with La-5.


Matti

[Stig Jarlevik]

Wow Matti

Some great details You got from this day!!
To me it seems the Finnish I-153s was on a very early morning patrol. Perhaps to be over their designated target at dawn. Seems far fetched they were anywhere near the German patrol.

Thanks for stating where Ystinski and Kreivilahti are situated. Seems even less likely they were involved with any fighting in Lavansaari.

As you say, time is always essential, but right now it seems we can rule out friendly fire in this case.

Thanks for sharing your files with us Matti!!

Cheers
Stig

[Nokose]

Matti and Stig, Thank You! I knew that Hans Wind was flying a Brewster but not Emil Vesa which helps set the stage. It will be revealed in the future by an author on this subject. Sorry, I can't give anymore on line at this time.

[Kari Lumppio]

Hallo!

IIRC Soviets flew last ten I-153 out from Lavansaari not until July 10th, 1943? Not sure about the unit any more. Too many years since actively studying those things.

Cheers,
Kari

[Juha]

Hello
I noted this thread only now, two comments, if I understand rightly, Germans used Summer time 29 March - 3 Oct 1943, so on 30 May their time was the same as the one used by Finns. According to Caldwell's The JG 26 War Diary Vol. 2 page 91Kelch and Reck were returning from that combat over the Gulf of Finland when they were attacked by two Finnish I-153s. "Kelch evaded the biplanes easily and returned to base [Siverskaya]; Reck, however, did not return..." So the time is possible and if Ystinski = Cape Ustje, the location also. But IMHO its a bit difficult to mistake Brewster for I-153. And as Kari said there were still Soviet I-153s based on Lavansaari. BTW Calwell acknowledges in his book that his sources on the actions of 7./JG 26 ops in the East are very limited.

Juha

[Nokose]

Thanks to all who responded. The answer has been found but it will have to wait for a future book to provide the answer.