291 IAP on 17 April 1943

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Hello,

On 17 April 1943, 4 or 5 pilots of 291 IAP flying to Rostov to join the Kuban front got lost and landed in error on German-held Taganrog airfield. Some were captured and some were killed, either on the ground or by Flak is not clear in my (Internet) source.

I would like to have details of what happened this day. According to a post on this forum (in the friendly fire mega-thread), 4 Yak-1 of 291 IAP landed in Taganrog this day.

Thanks in advance

Laurent

[Nikita Egorov]

Due to poor leading of the Pe-2s from 1 BAK a group of 291 IAP was routed to Taganrog instead of Rostov. Two planes landed and were captured, third hesitated and Germans opened fire, thus bringing down another two planes. Squadron commander and his deputy plus two more pilots were lost.
Later that day the whole 291 IAP was dispatched to conduct a strafing attack on the Taganrog airfield to destroy captured planes. Judging by Prien book that have photos of that captured planes this attack was in vain.
Though german sources deny that those planes were later used in combat sorties, Soviet documents contain some reports of them being faced in the air with mixed soviet and german markings...

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thanks Nikita (after some delay, sorry)

[rob van den nieuwendijk]

Hello Laurent and Nikita,

Have a notice from a former II./JG 3 pilot that during their stay in the Kuban area (April 1943) a russian officer landed his Jak 9 at Anapa. Any details available on this incident? Thanks for your help.

Best regards,
Rob

[Nikita Egorov]

Hi, Rob,

That is hardly Yak-9, but surely Yak1 or Yak-7. Yak-9s have not appeared in Kuban area by that time. Do you have any details from German side, is this the same Yak-9 that was tested in Rechlin?

Originally Posted by rob van den nieuwendijk

Hello Laurent and Nikita,

Have a notice from a former II./JG 3 pilot that during their stay in the Kuban area (April 1943) a russian officer landed his Jak 9 at Anapa. Any details available on this incident? Thanks for your help.

Best regards,
Rob

[rob van den nieuwendijk]

Hi Nikita,

Thanks for your reply. Alas I do not gave more details on this incident. Only the info I already stated. It is not much to go on. Info is from Leutnant Walter Bohatsch of 5./JG 3 - post war info. He did state a Yak 9; he might be wrong. I could not find any Yak 9 claim during their time in Kuban area, so I gather that this info from his memory has faded. Perhaps you might be able to identify the Russian aircraft and more details.

Best regards,
Rob

[Nikita Egorov]

Rob,

I suppose Bohatsch talked about the case that is being discussed on our russian forums for several years. Apart from that two-three planes of 291 IAP that landed in Taganrog, there was at least one case when Soviet plane was captured intact by Germans in April 1943. That was not usual plane, in terms that he beared a commemorative inscription on the fuselage, I do not remember the whole inscription, but it started with: "Stalinskomu Sokolu Leonidu Sminovu...". Some German sources say that it landed in Anapa in April and later was tested in Rechlin. Plane is identified as Yak-9. However, first Yak-9s appeared in Kuban area only at the end of May. First victories on that type registered on May 26, by pilots of 15 IAP/278 IAD/3 IAK. While discussing the available photos it turned out that this was Yak-1B.
Now about pilot identification, Kapitan Leonid Smirnov was rather well-known pilot, by the time he was killed in action he had 10 personal victories at his account and was a squadron commander in 148 IAP. He perished on May 13, 1943 in airial combat. As this case when his personal plane was captured occured in April, I suppose his plane was piloted by another flyer, more likely from 148 IAP, or there is a possibility that the pilot belonged to other two regiments of 287 IAD, 4 IAP or 293 IAP. There were several cases that fit by period when pilots disappered without trace, so the correct name of the Soviet pilot has not been established yet.

PS. Rob, I have several questions on the II/JG3 activities during Stalingrad period, can I adress you on that cases?

Originally Posted by rob van den nieuwendijk

Hi Nikita,

Thanks for your reply. Alas I do not gave more details on this incident. Only the info I already stated. It is not much to go on. Info is from Leutnant Walter Bohatsch of 5./JG 3 - post war info. He did state a Yak 9; he might be wrong. I could not find any Yak 9 claim during their time in Kuban area, so I gather that this info from his memory has faded. Perhaps you might be able to identify the Russian aircraft and more details.

Best regards,
Rob

[Ota Jirovec]

Hello Rob and Nikita,

According to the recollections of the ground-crew members of Slovak 13./JG 52, who have taken "Smirnov´s" aircraft and its pilot into custody, this Yak-1 has actually landed at Anapa on 11 May 1943 (at 14.25 hrs) only, i.e. not in April. Unfortunately, there is nothing about the exact identity of VVS pilot, who reportedly held a rank of starshiy leytenant. The next day, on 12 May, the aircraft was test-flown by the Germans for the first time and it was transferred to Taman in the evening of that day (escorted by a Rotte led by Ján Gerthofer of 13./JG 52). Later it was flown to Kerch, where it was inspected with interest by other Luftwaffe members, including Dieter Hrabak, the Kommodore of JG 52.

Hope this helps,

Ota

[Nokose]

These were Yak-1's that made the landing at Taganrog and not LaGG-3? I ran across the unforunate pilots names in this episode and wondered what happen later to them.
St. Serzh. Oleg Mikhaylovich Gorbachev (MIA)
St. Serzh. Mikhail Semenovich Dobytiev (MIA)
Kapt. Aleksey Gavrilovich Egorov (MIA)
Lt. Ivan Yakovlevich Edinarkhov (MIA)

[Nick Hector]

Between pages 64 and 65 of the Schiffer edition of the Helmut Lipfert War Diary, there are two photos of captured Yak-7s. Are these events confused with the ones being discussed here?
One caption says the Yak-7 was forced to land by 6 Staffel JG 52 in the Crimea, 1943 and the other was said to have been forced to land by Heinz Sachsenberg at Bagerovo...