Romanian AF claim on 14 May 1943

[Nokose]

I've went through most of the JG claims looking for who shot down a Pe-2 on the 14 May 1943 but all seem to be claimed in the wrong locations. The Pe-2 was a recon. aircraft. It was attacked by two Bf 109 according to the Soviet pilot who survived. JG 52 and JG 3 have no claims for Pe-2 on that day and JG 51's are not in the area. The location of the crash is Novo Astrakhan' (Nova Astrakhan) near Voroshilovograd (now Luhansk). It was possibly a Romanian pilot who got it. Does anyone know?

[Nokose]

Some more information on this event. The Pe-2 took off at 04:40 (Moscow time). Made radio contact at 05:51 (M) passing on information. In the area of Luhansk was attacked by two Bf 109 and shot down at 07:30 (06:30 Berlin) and crashed at Nova Astrakhn. Still thinking it might be Romanian but I don't know anything about the German Bf 109 recon units that might be in that sector.

[muggs_ro]

Can't find anything specific for this date from the books/resources I have, I can only confirm that if the Bf 109's were indeed romanian they belonged to Grupul 7 Vanatoare which was in that period subordinated to JG 3 and operated from the Kramatorskaya airfield.

Will try to ask others though to see if something useful pops up !

[Nokose]

I found the suspect unit for this claim on the 14 May 43 but still no pilot. The 9./JG 3 was stationed in the area at "Makejeka", I believe it might be Makiyivka now. It was in the path of the recon. of the Pe-2 from the 39 ORAP. I can only guess that the pilot involved could not get it confirmed or the report was lost or not filed. So any III/JG 3 historians can file this as under claimed.