Hartmann: claims vs. victories

[HGabor]

More details to the November 17, 1944 IL-2 claims in the Gyöngyös, Hungary area. As previously discussed, Hungarian Bf 109G pilots have claimed 4 IL-2s near Gyöngyös this day:

2 IL-2s were claimed by 1Lt. Flóznik Ervin (Bf 109G, 102/1.Sq.),
2 IL-2s were claimed by Capt. Hedrey Szilárd (Bf 109G, 102/1.Sq.).

Checking the 5 VA, 4 GvShAD, 90 GvShAP records, this regiment has lost 4+2 IL-2s this day:

Between 07:50-09:10, local, eight 90 GvShAP IL-2s, escorted by six 122 IAP Yak-9s attacked the Gyöngyös-Hort area and over Hort, they were attacked by 4 'Fw 190's. Here 1 IL-2 was lost:

Gv.Ml.Lt. Mihail Emelyanovich Sudorgin (OK)

Between 10:20-11:40, local, six 90 GvShAP IL-2s, escorted by six 122 IAP Yak-9s attacked the Hort area again. Over Csány, 8 'Fw 190's attacked them. (Soviets regularly reported the Hungarian Bf 109s as 'Fw 190's, perhaps due to their different camuflage.) During the very intense dogfight, 3 IL-2s were lost here:

Gv.Capt. Ivan Prokofevich Kurilov (KIA)
Gv.Ml.Lt. Vasilii Andreevich Ivlev (WIA)
Gv.Ml.Lt. Nikolai Vasilevich Halin (WIA)

The 90 GvShAP mechanical records have written off 4 IL-2s by November 17, 1944:

10392 - complete loss
10618
11360 - destroyed
1872699 - complete loss

...and by November 18, 1944 two more:

303933 - destroyed
1875681 - scrapped for spare parts

Since on November 18, 1944 the 90 GvShAP had no combat mission and AC losses, these were probably just seriously damaged planes on November 17, 1944 and the soviet mechanics just simply gave up on them.

All of this suggests that the 4 Hungarian IL-2 claims on November 17, 1944 were probably all legitimate aerial victories, not overclaims.

Gabor

[BenFolk]

More details to the November 17, 1944

On the day of the aerial battle between 10.20-11.40 a.m., another IL-2 was slightly damaged and the gunner (Boris Ivanovitch Ivanov) was wounded on the legs.
Bomber 218 BAD, 453 BAP A-20G (S/N: 42-53956), Lost not directly via Ocsa. Lt. Danielyan flew over the front line and seated a burning plane, after which enemy fighters fired to the plant and four attacks after planting. The plane was destroyed.

On October 27, 1944 207 okrap lost 1 IL-2 and 2 Jak-9, which did not return from enemy flight. The losses occurred described Lipfert exactly in his book.

O 12.36 (10.36 German time) yet another IL-2 from 207 okrap was attacked by 2 German Me109 which carried out 2 attacks.
There is nothing in the chronicle of the 5 VA.

The Soviets mostly only did not return from enemy flight, and when it came to a dogfight "everyone returned to the airfield". Though one or two pulled a plume of smoke behind them. As long as no one has seen anything from the other place. Aircraft can be repaired.

[Nick Beale]

MODERATOR’ NOTE: In tidying this thread, I merged one post too many. What follows should have appeared as a separate post by H Gabor. Apologies to all concerned.

Folks, just a minor correction to the initial list of this thread. Nikolai Matveevich Knut on October 27, 1944 certainly belonged to 5 VA, 13 GvIAD, 150 GvIAP, NOT to '150 IAP'! Attached pic shows two downed and captured soviet pilots, including him and Kotlyar:

150 GvIAP, Gv.Ml.Lt. Nikolai Matveevich Knut, downed on October 27, 1944 - Yak-3 (S/N: 3929212) - Picture from the April 5, 1945 issue of soviet 5 VA frontline-newspaper, showing his later downed Yak-3 in the background.

149 GvIAP, Gv.Ml.Lt Alexandr Titovich Kotlyar, downed on November 13, 1944 - Yak-1B (S/N: 11186)

Gabor

[rof120]

Please "Supermoderator" Nick have a look at the title of this long thread:

Hartmann - claims vs. victories

Don't you think a large part of the posts are clearly off-topic, being devoted to Hungarian victories and losses? Where is Hartmann here? I don't mind at all, quite on the contrary. All posts are interesting.

Such things happen very often at TOCH, the discussion shifting from one subject to another one or to several other ones. So what? It's interesting in any case.

You warned ME - me only - for a possible closing of the thread on French fighter victories (now at bottom of page 6, soon on page 7) because some words were "off-topic" (according to YOU). Then you closed that thread for good because of a short discussion of communist sabotage in French aircraft factories, which in no way was off-topic: sabotage had a direct impact on fighter production, hence on French fighter victories, the very subject of the thread.

So I feel I am a victim of arbitrary censorship on your part. This is very ugly. Please abstain from such unfair treatment in the future, thanks in advance. Or have you a particular axe to grind here? Hmmm? Tell us please.

[HGabor]

The October 27, 1944 events are very interesting. This day between 10:15 - 15:00 (local) 2 Yak-9D and 2 IL-2KR of 5 VA, 207 OKRAP flew recce. missions in the Csap, Nyírbátor, Vásárosnamény, Mátészalka, etc. area. In the same region, near Büdszentmihály ('Büd-St. Michael', new name: Tiszavasvári) Hptm. Helmut Lipfert claimed an IL-2 at 12:17 and a Yak-7 at 12:21, four minutes apart. This day the 5 VA, 207 OKRAP has lost 2 (Omsk, Factory No.166-built) Yak-9D and a (Factory No.1-built) IL-2KR as follows:

IL-2KR crew:
Ml.Lt. Mihail Petrovich Lanskii pilot
St.Lt. Lev Dmitrievich Sinev observer

Yak-9D:
Ml.Lt. Alexandr Mihailovich Rozhkov
Yak-9D:
St.Lt. Konstantin Vasilevich Sapevo

Their planes were not showing up in the given day's AC losses. Confusion was caused by the delay of the mechanical records. In 207 OKRAP records an IL-2KR was written-off only by November 3, 1944 and 2 additional Yak-9Ds in the November 1-15, 1944 time period as combat losses:

IL-2KR, S/N: 10948, engine: 256676 (prev. engine in April, 1944 was No.259350)
Yak-9D, S/N: 19166066, engine: 415-1037
Yak-9D, S/N: 19166078, engine: 415-90

In addition to these, at 10:36 local, the other 207 OKRAP IL-2KR, piloted by Maj. Nikolai Petrovich Zubko was attacked by 2 Bf 109s unsuccessfully.

Since between October 27, 1944 and the given other dates no more 207 OKRAP AC loss is known, therefore the listed planes were most likely lost on October 27, 1944, not later. The IL-2 connection is clear, as having a single option, but the 2 Yak-9s and their pilots at this point cannot be matched for 100%.

Erich Hartmann’s 305th (Yak-9) claim at 10:16 over Nagykálló-E (18 265) at 2500 m is still questionable. The soviet recce. planes reported many vehicles on the roads before they were lost (so they had already been in the air for awhile) and it is highly unlikely that someone could shoot down a plane at 2500 m over the target area, only 1 minute after their mission has started. (10:15 vs. 10:16). More investigation is needed.

By October 1, 1944 the 5 VA, 207 OKRAP had:

7 Yak-9D (six from Omsk, Factory No.166 and one from Novosibirsk, Factory No.153, but this one (S/N: 2115312) was already lost before October 25, 1944.)
16 IL-2KR (15 from Factory No.1 and a single one from Factory No.30, S/N: 302360, being repaired in Kirovograd by December 26, 1944.)
5 Po-2 biplanes

Gabor

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by rof120

Or have you a particular axe to grind here? Hmmm? Tell us please.

You may rest assured that I have neither the time nor the inclination to single you out for persecution, you aren't that important to me.

Your bid for attention aside, this thread has been an intelligent comparison of the available evidence for various claims and losses and I see no reason to interrupt it.

[HGabor]

In early February, 1945 for a brief period of time Erich Hartmann had served in Stab I./JG 53 in Veszprém, Hungary. On February 4, 1945 he claimed a Yak-9. Unfortunately no details are known about this claim, so it is almost impossible to match it to soviet losses, not to mention, that the RHAF was also very active this day in the same region. What we know is that this day 2 Yak-9s were lost to Bf 109s in the Budapest area and many more Lavochkins in various locations W-, SW- of the city:

337: – POTENTIAL VICTORY? 4.2.1945 - Yak-9 Stab I./JG 53

2 (Novosibirsk-built) Yak losses this day:

5 VA, 6 GvIAD, 31 GvIAP, Yak-9D (S/N: 2015350), Gv.Ml.Lt. Petr Yakovlevich Vidanov was KIA at Budapest. At 12:50 local, 6 Yaks, covering own troops in combat with 8 Bf 109s. Vidanov went missing.

5 VA, 6 GvIAD, 31 GvIAP, Yak-9 (S/N: 1515321), Gv.Lt. Ivan Andreevich Yangaev. At 12:50 local, 6 Yaks, covering own troops over 5 km West of Budapest at 4500 m. Dogfight with 8 Bf 109s. Yak-9 was hit over Csepel, crashlanded at Rákoscsaba. Plane burned, pilot was wounded in legs and head, taken to Hospital of Isaszeg.

Lavochkin losses of the day - in case if he misidentified his opponent. (I, however, doubt this, as he always attacked from a very close range):

5 VA, 14 GvIAD, 179 GvIAP, La-7FN (S/N: 45210566) Gv.Ml.Lt. Ivan Nikitovich Lebedev was dive bombing and strafing German strongholds in Buda. La-7 was hit by flak and crashed in the target area, pilot was KIA. (Not for Hartmann!)

17 VA, 194 IAD has written-off 2 La-5F this day as (probably losses of prev. days): 39215033, 39215251.

17 VA, 194 IAD, 848 IAP, La-5F (S/N: 39215046) 6 La-5 at 16:00 local, at 2000 m at 2 km West of Sárkeresztes. Shot at by flak and Bf 109s. Vladimir Zaharovich Voronov was hit and crashed. Zavlyalov shot down his attacker, so this Bf 109 was also destroyed. Voronov went MIA.

17 VA, 194 IAD, 848 IAP, La-5FN (S/N: 39212754), at 16:00 local, Ml.Lt. Boris Petrovich Lazarev was MIA after dogfight with Bf 109s at 2000 m at 2 km West of Sárkeresztes. 6 La-5 received flak fire as well. It was heard in the radio as Lazarev passed command to Vasilev, because his engine was overheating and then went MIA.

17 VA, 295 IAD, 116 IAP, 1st Sq. La-5FN (S/N: 39212113) Plane was lost in take-off accident at Kiskunlacháza. Pilot, Ml.Lt. Konstantin Ivanovich Kurenkov was KIFA.

5 VA, 14 GvIAD, 178 GvIAP La-5FN (S/N: 39213685) Gv.Lt. Igor Emelyanovich Sereda was hit by flak during a 2-plane recce. sortie in the Székesfehérvár area. Crashlanded at Rákospalota.

5 VA, 279 IAD, 92 IAP La-5FN (S/N: 39212054) at 13:25 local, at 1500 m, 4 La-5, escorting a pair of IL-2s in the Enying-Lake Velencei area. Combat with 14 Fw 190 and Bf 109, which were attacking the ILs from the sun. While defending the IL-2s, Ml.Lt. Mihail Pavlovich Dimakov’s La-5 was hit, crashlanded at his base.

Gabor

[HGabor]

Hi Folks,
Here is the reviewed and updated victory analysis for Erich Hartmann for the fall of 1944 and the very end of WWII in Europe. Just in case if he misidentified his opponent(s), I listed the applicable single engine soviet fighter losses, not just the specific model that he claimed. Out of his following 31 claims, a max. of 9 planes were potential victories, the rest were just overclaims at best, - made up fiction at worst. This means that IF(!) all of these 9 potential victories were legitimate victories (that from the available information I cannot verify), where the attacked plane was actually destroyed, his accuracy was 29%. Applying this average to his 352 claims, he had about 102 legitimate aerial victories during WWII, - which is still a remarkable achievement. Finally, I can also imagine, that some of his claims were in fact friendly-fire (e.g. Hungarian, Rumanian, or even German) Bf 109, or Fw 190 fighters misidentified as Yaks, or Lavochkins. This could easily be the serious consequence of his famous ‘hit-and-run’ ambush tactics. This, by the way, at the same time would explain both questions: why his wingmen confirmed his kills and why the soviets did not report such losses there and then… I have never checked this possibility, but it would worth the effort for Luftwaffe experts. Personally I believe that in most cases he really hit his opponents, however, they were just damaged and after the necessary repairs kept fighting the next day. Damaging the enemy fighters, while the IL-2s and bombers kept destroying the German army on the ground, was not a war winning strategy. It was good for personal glory and Luftwaffe propaganda, but did not really help to win the war. Either way, the review and re-evaluation of Erich Hartmann’s legacy is way overdue.


305: -OVERCLAIM 27.10.1944 10:16 Yak-9 4./JG 52 18 265: at 2.500m

5 VA, 331 IAD, 513 IAP Yak-1B (S/N: 20150) destroyed on the ground at Debrecen airfield in air raid.

5 VA, 331 IAD, 513 IAP Yak-9T (S/N: 2515338) destroyed on the ground at Debrecen airfield in air raid.

5 VA, 13 GvIAD, 150 GvIAP Yak-3 (S/N: 3929212, No.’39’) downed by Hptm. Fritz Schröter (Stab.I/SG.10 - Fw 190F) at 13:42 local, 6 Yak-3 vs. 4 Bf 109 and 16 Fw 190 at 2000 m in the Nyíregyháza area. Gv.Ml.Lt. Nikolai Matveevich Knut bailed out, got captured.

5 VA, 207 OKRAP, Yak-9D (S/N: 19166066, or 19166078) Recce. mission started at 10:15 local, Ml.Lt. Alexandr Mihailovich Rozhkov later went missing. Too late sortie to be shot down over the target area at 10:16 local, only 1 min. after take off time.

5 VA, 207 OKRAP, Yak-9D (S/N: 19166078, or 19166066) Recce. mission started at 10:15 local, St.Lt. Konstantin Vasilevich Sapevo later went missing. Too late sortie to be shot down over the target area at 10:16 local, only 1 min. after take off time.

5 VA, 279 IAD, 192 IAP, La-5FN (S/N: 39213433, No.’33’) at 13:55 local, at 300 m, pair of recce. La-5s in the Kecskemét area. St.Lt. Sergei Fedorovich Gukov was hit by flak, belly landed at Kecskemét-NW, 8 km near a lake at Méntelek. Captured, later liberated.

306: - VICTORY- 31.10.1944 15:30 Yak-7 4./JG 52 98 799 – it was La-5F (S/N: 39215187) around 15:25 local, in the very same area!

NO YAK loss! (This day the 5 VA lost: 1 A-20G-10-DO (S/N: 42-54006, from 452 BAP), 11 IL-2 and 2 La-5)

5 VA, 14 GvIAD, 177 GvIAP, La-5F (S/N: 39215187, No.’87’) Lost in the Kecskemét-Kerekegyháza area, Gv.Capt. Pavel Yakovlevich Morduhovich was MIA. At 15:25 local, pair of Gv.Capt. Morduhovich - Gv.Lt. Abramov was patrolling in the Kerekegyháza-N area. At 2000 m combat with 2 Fw 190 and 2 Bf 109. Morduhovich attacked the Fw 190s, when the Bf 109 pair got in his tail. His wingman, Gv.Lt. Abramov broke away and has not seen or heard his leader in the radio anymore.

5 VA, 14 GvIAD, 177 GvIAP, La-5FN (S/N: 41210105 – metal wing!) free hunting and recce. mission in the Cegléd-Szolnok-Jászapáti area. Lost near Cegléd, Gv.Lt. Alexei Alexandrovich Kunshin was MIA. At 09:25 La-5s of 177 GvIAP were strafing a truck convoy on the road between Szolnok-Cegléd. After the attack Kunshin was missing. Most likely downed by flak, or brought down by the explosion of one of the attacked trucks.

307?: -OVERCLAIM 1.11.1944 14:35 LaGG-5 4./JG 52 98 836: at 2.500m

5 VA, 14 GvIAD, 177 GvIAP La-5F (S/N: 39215336, No.’36’) downed by Pottyondy László szds. (Capt., Hungarian 102/2. Bf 109G Sq.) at Szolnok. Gv.Ml.Lt. Evgenii Ivanovich Batyunya was wounded.

5 VA, 6 GvIAD, 73 GvIAP, Yak-1B (S/N: 08175) Lost at Lakitelek-NW, Gv.Lt. Alexandr Semenovich Andrianov, bailed out, badly wounded, POW. 8 Yaks, led by Zuev vs. 8 Bf 109 at 4500-6000 m in the Nagykőrös area. Attack on the leading pair.

5 VA, 6 GvIAD, 73 GvIAP, 1st Sq., Yak-9D (S/N: 18166046) – NOT A LOSS!, only damaged in combat, repaired on its airfield!!!

307?: -OVERCLAIM 7.11.1944 13:35 Yak-7 4./JG 52 98 563: at 1.000m

5 VA, 13 GvIAD, 150 GvIAP Yak-3 (S/N: 3229214, No.’32’) at 12:19 local at 1200 m, 6 Yak vs. 4 Fw 190 in the Lajosmizse area. Gv.Lt. Evgenii Andreevich Pyankov bailed out, badly burned.

5 VA, 279 IAD, 92 IAP, La-5FN (S/N: 39211227, No.’27’) Lost at 15:00 local at Szarvas-SE from a group of 4 La-5, 2 IL-2 from 800 m. Sq. commander, Capt. Mihail Afanasevich Kazanovskii bailed out, his La-5FN went down in flames.

308: – POTENTIAL VICTORY? 13.11.1944 14:10 Yak-9 4./JG 52 89 ---: at 5.000m
309: – POTENTIAL VICTORY? 13.11.1944 14:15 Yak-9 4./JG 52 9866-: at 4.200m
310: -OVERCLAIM 13.11.1944 14:25 Yak-9 4./JG 52 0854-: at 4.000m
311: -OVERCLAIM 13.11.1944 14:30 Yak-9 4./JG 52 98 637: at 4.000m

5 VA, 331 IAD, 122 IAP, Yak-9M (S/N: 2715382), Gv.Lt. Nikolai Mikhailovich Grisaev (unhurt) - take-off accident at Külső-Kiritó airfield.

5 VA, 13 GvIAD, 149 GvIAP, Yak-1B (S/N:11186), lost at Jászberény, Gv.Ml.Lt Alexandr Titovich Kotlyar POW. Between 13:55-14:50 4+4 Yaks, led by Kalchenko and Kadagidze attacked 4 Fw 190 and 2 Bf 109 at 3000 m, which were attacking the road at Jászberény-S. Kalchenko downed a Bf 109, Kotlyar bailed out and got captured. Heavy fragmentation in both of his hands. After being liberated by the Allies, remained in hospital until June 18, 1945. Returned to the USSR on June 20 1945.

5 VA, 13 GvIAD, 149 GvIAP, Yak-1B (S/N: 42178), lost at Abony-N, 20 km, Gv.Ml.Lt Stephanov was unhurt. At 12:55 local, 8 Yaks at 3000 m were attacked by 6 Bf 109 from the sun. Hidraulics damaged, crashlanded on one wheel. AC lost, pilot returned the same day to his unit.

5 VA, 13 GvIAD, 150 GvIAP, Yak-3 (S/N: 3529218, No.’35’), lost at Ócsa, Gv.St.Lt. Nikolai Alexeevich Kireev wounded. At 08:41 local, 6 Yak-3 over Ócsa met 13 Bf 109 at 3500 m. As a wingman of his leader, who was attacking a pair of Bf 109s got hit, bailed out, and with injured legs was taken to hospital.

5 VA, 13 GvIAD, 150 GvIAP, Yak-9D (S/N: 1815358), lost in Nagykáta area, Gv.St.Lt. Nikolai Sergeevich Egorov, Sq. Comm. returned. At 11:54 local at 1000 m, 6 Yak-3 and 2 Yak-9 met a large group of 8 Fw 190, 8 Ju 87, escorted by 15 Bf 109. Egorov downed a Bf 109 and a Ju 87, but was hit, caught fire by a Fw 190 and bailed out. Landed on enemy territory, hid, then in the darkness returned to his own side.

5 VA, 331 IAD, 179 IAP, Yak-9M (S/N: 2715317), lost at Újszász-E, 5 km, Svistkov unhurt. Hit by flak in the Jászberény area, crashlanded burning at Újszász-E, 5 km Pilot returned on the next day.

5 VA, 331 IAD, 179 IAP, Yak-9T (S/N: 0215354). Lost near Zsámbok, Ml.Lt. Evgenii Ivanovich Teplishev MIA. At 13:50 local 4 Yaks, covering 6 IL-2 in the Jászberény area met 8 Bf 109. Got hit, crashlanded at Zsámbok-SW, 6 km.

5 VA, 14 GvIAD, 177 GvIAP, 3rd Sq., La-5FN (S/N: 41210201 – metal wing!) lost at Újszász in a sharp, turning dogfight with Heinz Ewald near the frontline at low, deadly altitude. Heroic soviet pilot, Gv.Lt. Boris Georgievich Kalinin (1922-1944), who alone accepted the turning duel from his flight of four La-5 with Heinz Ewald, was KIA. Burning crash seen on the swampy shore of the Tisza river. Radial engine (S/N: 8212559) recovered in September, 2007, restored, now on display in our Szolnok Aircraft Museum.

312: 14.11.1944 – OVERCLAIM 11:35 LaGG-5 4./JG 52 98 494: at 2.000m
313: 14.11.1944 – POTENTIAL VICTORY? 11:45 LaGG-5 4./JG 52 08 471: at 800m

5 VA, 279 IAD, 92 IAP La-5FN (S/N: 39213519, No.’92’) Ml.Lt. Sergei Alexeevich Matveev injured. At 11:20 local 4+2 La-5 escorting 6 IL-2 vs. 2 ‘Fw 190’ and flak in the Valkó - Tarnaörs area. Engine and pilot’s head at 800 m was hit, lost consciousness, then at around 100-50 m he regained consciousness and with final effort took control and crashlanded on soviet controlled territory. Plane written-off. A veeery lucky guy!

314: 16.11.1944 – POTENTIAL VICTORY 8:45 Yak-9 4./JG 52 98 368: at 4.000m
315: 16.11.1944 – POTENTIAL VICTORY 8:50 Yak-9 4./JG 52 98 487: at 1.000m

5 VA, 6 GvIAD, 31 GvIAP, Yak-9D (S/N: 2015370). Gv.Ml.Lt. Valerii Arkadevich Koptelov was unhurt. At 12:20 local, at 3000 m 4 Yaks were patrolling in the Jászberény-N area, when 2 of 6 Bf 109s attacked them in a frontal attack from below. After a 180 degree turn they started to chase the 109s. After the attack his engine started to smoke. Kortelov turned to the East towards the Tisza river and at 12 km East of Jászkisér at 800 m his engine caught fire. Pilot bailed out right away and landed safely. Returned on November 18, 1944 without his plane.

5 VA, 6 GvIAD, 73 GvIAP, Yak-9D (S/N: 2015315). Gv.Ml.Lt. Alexandr Stephanovich Shuvalov went missing. 10 Yaks, led by Lt.Col. Mikhailyuk were covering the soviet troops in the Jászberény - Pusztamonostor – Jászárokszállás triangle at 4000 m. Over Jászárokszállás the pair of Savchuk-Shuvalov separated from the group and Shuvalov went missing. Radio connection was good, dogfight was not reported. Fate is unknown. Perhaps Erich Hartmann caught him at 08:45?

5 VA, 6 GvIAD, 85 GvIAP, Yak-9D (S/N: 2015329). Mutually downed by Debrődy György fhdgy. (Hungarian 101/3. Sq., 26 kill Bf 109G ace) between Jászberény-Jászárokszállás in a ‘suicidal’, frontal attack. Gv.Ml.Lt. Ismail Semenovich Rulev exploded mid-air (KIA), Debrődy’s belly was shot through, with final effort belly landed along the Hatvan-Budapest RR line, rushed to hospital, saved. 1 bullet stayed in his body, removed in the U.S.A. after the war.

5 VA, 331 IAD, 122 IAP, Yak-1B (S/N: 22183). Landing accident at the airfield of Külső-Kiritó-N, 600-700 m at 15:20 local, after escorting the 90 GvShAP IL-2s to Hatvan. Ml.Lt. Mihail Ivanovich Sapa was unhurt.

5 VA, 331 IAD, 122 IAP, Yak-1B (S/N: 06179). Lost at Hatvan-S, Capt. Petr Grigorevich Artemev was KIA. At 12:00 4 Yak and six 92 GvShAP IL-2 in Hatvan area. Battle with 4-5 Fw 190, 4 Bf 109 at Csányi. Artemev was missing.

5 VA, 331 IAD, 122 IAP, Yak-9M (S/N: 2715305). Crashlanded at Törökszentmiklós-SE, 6 km, Ml.Lt. Boris Alexandrovich Horkin was injured. While covering 92 GvShAP IL-2s in the Hatvan area at 12:00 local, at 1300 m over Csányi a Fw 190 hit him, he lost altitude, then at 200 m another 6 Fw 190 attacked him, (2 of them collided behind him during the chase and probably crashed), then he crashlanded at Törökszentmiklós with leg injury.

5 VA, 331 IAD, 122 IAP, Yak-9 (S/N: 2515332). Lost at Jászfényszaru-E, St.Lt. Anatolii Mihailovich Znamenev went missing. 4 Yaks at 12:30 local at 1200 m escorted six 92 GvShAP IL-2 in the Hatvan area when they met 6 Bf 109. Formation loosened up, his leader returned to airfield alone.

5 VA, 331 IAD, 122 IAP, Yak-9 (S/N: 2515396). Lost at Jászfényszaru-NE, Ml.Lt. Ivan Constantinovich Babanin went missing. 4 Yak-9 at 12:20 local at 1200 m vs. 16 Bf 109 in the Hatvan area.

5 VA, 331 IAD, 179 IAP, Yak-1B (S/N: 12152). Lost at the airfield of Tiszapüspöki.
At 13:55 local, 4 Yaks covering 8 IL-2 of 91 GvShAP, returning from the Hatvan mission. Plane broken at landing due to bad weather/turbulance.

5 VA, 331 IAD, 513 IAP, Yak-9T (S/N: 1015328). Lost at Hatvan, pilot, Lt. Georgii Dorofeevich Yarovoy was KIA. At 10:52 local, 4 Yaks of 513 IAP (Capt. Malikov, Lt. Kovalenko, Lt. Astaskevich, Lt. Yarovoy) at 2000 m, while covering 264 ShAD IL-2s met 16 Fw 190. Downed during the 3rd attack by 4 Fw 190.

5 VA, 13 GvIAD, 149 GvIAP, Yak-9M (S/N: 3615389, ‘< ..’). Lost at Alsódabas-NE, 6 km. Gv.Ml.Lt. Vladimir Andreevich Ustich was injured. At 9:00 local, pair of recce. Yak-9s was checking the roads in the Hatvan-Budapest-Vác-Esztergom area. Near the city of Vác at 3500 m they met 6 Bf 109. First Ustich, then his wingman, Merzlenko claimed 1-1 Bf 109. Soon after this Ustich got minor hits into the fuselage. They headed for home, but while crossing the frontline, Ustich’s engine was hit by flak, his plane fell in the Alsódabas-NE area. Wingman Merzlenko returned home alone and landed safely. Ustich was picked up by own troops and was taken to hospital. Potential victory at 08:50.

5 VA, 13 GvIAD, 150 GvIAP, Yak-3 (S/N: 1229217, No.’12’). Lost at Pécel, Budapest-E. Gv.Lt. Sergei Grigorevich Yefimenkov MIA. At 15:15 local, 8 Yak-3 at 3000 m met 6 Bf 109 and 8 Fw 190. While covering his leader, he performed a frontal attack on one of the Bf 109s and was shot down. Fate unknown.

5 VA, 13 GvIAD, 150 GvIAP, Yak-3 (S/N: 3429214, No.’34’). Lost at Isaszeg, Budapest-E, Gv.Lt. Alexandr Nikolaevich Agdantsev went missing. At 13:42 local, between 2000-3500 m 8 Yaks covered their own troops and met 4 Bf 109. Agdantsev while protecting the first group of four was hit and bailed out with parachute. Downed by Gerhard Barkhorn (Stab.II/JG.52) at 13.40.

5 VA, 13 GvIAD, 150 GvIAP, Yak-9D (S/N: 2315371). Landing accident. In a dogfight over Kóka, pneumatic/hydraulic system got damaged, at landing ran into a parking IL-2. Pilot, Gv.St.Lt. Grigorii Yakovlevich Bekkerman was unhurt, plane written off.

5 VA, 14 GvIAD, 178 GvIAP, 1st Sq., La-5FN (S/N: 39212952, No.‘52’) Crashed in a dogfight with Bf 109G fighters at Besenyszög-E, 3 km. Gv.St.Lt. Boris Vasilevich Zhigulenkov (famous fighter ace, Hero of Soviet Union) was KIA. 09:45-10:35 local, 5 (3+2) La-5, led by famous fighter ace, 2 x HSU, Gv.Capt. Kirill Alexeevich Evstigneev (3, La-5FN, ‘14’) and Gv.St.Lt. Petr Romanovich Setinin (2) in the Jászberény-Pusztamonostor-Jászárokszállás area. Combat with 12 Bf 109, 8 Fw 190. Over Pusztamonostor another 5(6) Bf 109 attacked and hit Zhigulenkov, who crashed at Besenyszög-E, 3 km.

5 VA, 279 IAD, 192 IAP, La-5F (S/N: 39214932, No.'32') Lost at Nagykáta at 14:00 local. 4 La-5, covering 9 IL-2 of 5 VA, 12 GvShAD, 188 GvShAP in the Hatvan-Hort-Atkár-Csány area. Combat with 6 ‘Fw 190’ at Nagykáta-NE, 2-3 km at 2400 m. Ml.Lt. Vladimir Mihailovich Olnev was hit, injured, bailed out at 2000 m. On November 20, 1944 he returned to his unit without his plane. This day -according to their diary- the 188 GvSAP IL-2s in 40 missions dropped 26 FAB-100, 25 FAB-50, 56 AO-25, 1838 AO-2.5, 1084 PTAB (anti-tank) bombs, fired 89 RS-82 wing rockets, 4690 (23 mm) cannon-rounds, 7760 SKAS machine gun-rounds.

316: 17.11.1944 – OVERCLAIM 14:25 Boston III 4./JG 52 98 584: at 2.000m

5 VA, 218 BAD, 453 BAP, A-20G-10-DO Boston (S/N: 42-53956), lost at Ócsa, downed by Hungarian Bf 109G ace, Capt. Pottyondy László (102/2. Sq) at 14.30. Lt. Norayr Sumbatovich Danielyan was injured. Recce. flight over Budapest-S. Hungarian ace, Capt. Pottyondy this time flew in pair with Hartmann as his friend! The plane was delivered through the ‘ALSIB’ (Alaska-Siberia) route.

5 VA, 218 BAD, 453 BAP, A-20G-15-DO Boston (S/N: 42-54223), lost at Kevermes-S, 1 km in a ferry flight, mech. accident/fog. Pilot, Capt. Vasilii Kirillovich Yurchenko (1906-25.04.1945) was unhurt.

317: -OVERCLAIM 22.11.1944 11:40 Yak-9 4./JG 52 98 453: at 3.500m
318: -POTENTIAL VICTORY 22.11.1944 11:45 La-5 4./JG 52 98 452: at 4.500m
319: -OVERCLAIM 22.11.1944 - Il-2 4./JG 52 -
320: -OVERCLAIM 22.11.1944 - Il-2 4./JG 52 -
321: -OVERCLAIM 22.11.1944 - Il-2 4./JG 52 -
322: -OVERCLAIM 22.11.1944 - Yak-3 4./JG 52 –

5 VA, 14 GvIAD, 177 GvIAP La-5FN (S/N: 39211746, No.’46’), Downed in dogfight in the Hatvan-E area, pilot Kovrigin unhurt.

5 VA, 264 ShAD, 809 ShAP IL-2m3 (S/N: 1878785), downed by flak at Gyöngyöspata. Six 809 ShAP IL-2, covered by six 513 IAP Yak-9 attacked ground targets at Gyöngyöspata. During the 2nd strike Polunin’s engine started to smoke. Plane lost altitude and belly landed at Csány-NE, 7 km. Crew of Lt. Fedor Stepanovich Polunin - Kuptsov unhurt. Repaired, then lost again, -this time permanently- on March 20, 1945 between Kocs-Dad, Hungary with the Ml.Lt. Volosyankin crew in 5 VA, 264 ShAD, 451 ShAP.

323: -OVERCLAIM 23.11.1944 - Yak-3 4./JG 52 -
324: -OVERCLAIM 23.11.1944 - Yak-9 4./JG 52 -
325: -OVERCLAIM 23.11.1944 - Yak-9 4./JG 52 -
326: -OVERCLAIM 23.11.1944 - Yak-9 4./JG 52 -
327: -POTENTIAL VICTORY? 23.11.1944 - Yak-9 4./JG 52 –

3 Yak losses this day, and only 2 in the air, during mission! Hartmann’s details are unknown, but thus 3 Yaks for sure (and in his case probably more) had to be overclaim out of his 5 claims…!!!

5 VA, 331 IAD, 122 IAP, Yak-1B (S/N: 32161). Take off accident. At 08:40 local, during take off Ml.Lt. Evgenii Semenovich Titov turned to the right and his right wing touched the ground. Plane broken, pilot unhurt. Plane written off without the engine as it remained in good condition and probably was reused later. Cannot be an aerial victory!

5 VA, 331 IAD, 513 IAP, Yak-1B (S/N: 29156, or 45168), Ml.lt. Yakov A. Goychenko unhurt. At 10:38 local, 6 Yaks, covering 6 IL-2 of the 809 ShAP in the Rózsaszentmárton (Rose-St. Martin) area met 6 Fw 190. 4 attacked the Yaks, 2 the ILs. Goychenko’s radiator got hit, force landed at Kál-S, 15 km. Plane not subject to repair, pilot unhurt.

5 VA, 331 IAD, 513 IAP, Yak-1B (S/N: 45168, or 29156), Ml.Lt. Pavel Petrovich Kuyanov MIA/KIA. At 10:38 local, 6 Yaks, covering 6 IL-2 of the 809 ShAP in the Rózsaszentmárton (Rose-St. Martin) area met 6 ‘Fw 190’. 4 attacked the Yaks, 2 the IL-2s. (Note: Bf 109s and Fw 190s were very often misidentified by the soviet pilots, especially in the cloudy fall months and /or when Hungarian Bf 109s were present with different camouflage.) Kuyanov fell behind his formation and was brought down immediately. Plane fell and crashed in the target area. (Lipfert’s 158., ‘Yak-9’ victory at 10:40 at nearby Atkár! - confirmed)

328: -OVERCLAIM 5.12.1944 13:20 LaGG-5 4./JG 52 98 419: at 1.200m
329: -OVERCLAIM 5.12.1944 13:25 LaGG-5 4./JG 52 98 278: at 1.000m

5 VA, 279 IAD, 486 IAP, La-5FN (S/N: 39212724, No.’24’), lost at Ercsi, Budapest-S. Ml.Lt. Vladimir Grigorevich Snagovskii was MIA. At 11:55 local, recce. pair, led by Lt. Blinov vs. 6 ‘Fw 190’. Snagowskii was shot down and MIA.

5 VA, 14 GvIAD, 177 GvIAP, La-5FN (S/N: 39211776, No.'76') Downed by flak, Ml.Lt. Nikolai Lukyanovich Vereshak was unhurt. (His next La-5FN was No.41210115)

5 VA, 331 IAD, 122 IAP, Yak-9M (S/N: 3015336, No.'36') At 15:05 local at 2000 m, 4 Yaks covering 10 IL-2 in the Heréd area met 4 Bf 109. Received hit in the hydraulics system and belly-landed in the Pusztamonostor area. Plane broken, pilot, Lt. Georgii Alexandrovich Ulanov was slightly injured. The soviets gave air support to Gv.St.Lt. Dmitrii Fedorovich Loza’s 46 Guards Tank-Brigade, that was fighting in the Heréd-(Nagy)Kökényes area. This was the very first tank-battle, in which the new, 76 mm M4A2(76)W ’Shermans’ tasted battle and immediately suffered huge losses, as the Germans fired from covers and pushed the soviet tanks in a swampy area, where many sank and became just 'sitting duck' to the Germans.

5 VA, 331 IAD, 122 IAP, Yak-9T (S/N: 1615383, No.'83') At 10:12 local, at 1500 m, 6 Yaks covering 10 IL-2 in the Erdőtarcsa area met 8 Bf 109. 4 Bf 109 turned agaisnt the Yaks, 4 against the ILs. Ml.Lt. Mihail Semenovich Yerko went missing.

5 VA, 13 GvIAD, 151 GvIAP, Yak-3 (S/N: 1529219, No.'15') Lost over Ercsi, Jewish Gv.Maj. Yezro Markovich Ravikovich, commander of 151 GvIAP was KIA. At 14:00 local, 8 Yaks (4 Yak-3, 4 Yak-1B), led by Gv.Maj. Ravikovich took off from Kecskemét to cover the Danube river crossings of soviet ground forces in the Ercsi area, south of Budapest. Large groups of enemy planes tried to attack and stop the crossing: Bf 109s, Fw 190s, then (~Rudel’s 10.(Pz)/SG.2) Ju 87G-2 Stukas, covered by Bf 109s, Fw 190s. Yak-3s of Gv.Maj. Yezro Markovich Ravikovich and Gv.St.Lt. Dmitrii Alexeevich Menshikov rolled over, and jumped on the first pair of the Fw 190s, then started to chase a Ju 87G-pair, downing one from each. Ravikovich went to 400-500 m, his wingman, Menshikov to 200 m and lost Ravikovich from his sight. This time they were attacking the Ju 87s. The other 6 Yaks were still busy fighting the enemy fighters South of Ercsi. It is believed, that Ravikovich was hit (either killed, or seriously wounded) in the return fire of the (~SG.2) Stukas. Total claims: 3 Fw 190, 2 Ju 87G, 1 Hs 129 (~14.(Pz)/SG.9). (Lt.Col. Borovoy, Maj. Gavrilin, Gv.Ml.Lt. Lyashin – ’Sword group’.)

5 VA, 331 IAD, 513 IAP, Yak-1B (S/N: 20153) Lost near Szirák. At 11:00 local, 8 Yak-1, Yak-9, escorting 12 IL-2 of the 809 ShAP in the Erdőtarcsa area. Over the target at 1500 m combat with 8 Bf 109. Ml.Lt. Ivan Arhipovich Guryev went missing. The IL-2s suffered no losses.

330: -OVERCLAIM 9.12.1944 13:10 Yak-9 4./JG 52 88 683: at 2.000m
331: -OVERCLAIM 9.12.1944 13:20 Yak-9 4./JG 52 88 694: at 2.000m
5 VA, 13 GvIAD, 150 GvIAP, Yak-3 (S/N: 2329218, No.’23’). Lost at his airfield (crashlanding) after recce. mission to Baracska area. Gv.Ml. Lt. Lev Gerasimovich Kamanyan was unhurt. At 14:50 local, at 1000 m 2 Yak-3 and 2 Yak-9 in the Baracska area met up to 20 Fw 190s, attacking the soviet first lines. While covering his leader, Kamanyan was hit. After return, during landing his engine gave up. Plane crashed, pilot unhurt.

5 VA, 331 IAD, 513 IAP, Yak-9M (S/N: 2515361). Lost at Tiszanána. At 13:50 local, at 1500 m, 4 Yak-9 were escorting 6 IL-2 of the 809 ShAP in the Csömör area. Over the target the plane was hit by flak and after return, crashlanded at Tiszanána. Plane broken, Sq. commander St.Lt. Vasilii Pavlovich Fedosov was unhurt.

5 VA, 331 IAD, 513 IAP, (Omsk-built) Yak-9D (S/N: 19166063). At 13:20 they took off to protect IL-2s in the Veresegyháza area. During landing the soil was too soft and the plane nosed in. Pilot, Capt. Alexandr Kuzmich Fokin had bruises on his hands while protecting his face.

337 4.2.1945 - Yak-9 Stab I./JG 53 - OVERCLAIM? - in the Veszprém area

This day the 17 VA (3rd Ukrainian Front), which was operating in the Veszprém - Székesfehérvár - Lake Balaton area lost:

1 A-20G-36-DO 'Boston'
2 IL-2
3 La-5FN, plus two 194 IAD La-5Fs written off (No.39215033, 39215251) as a result of PREV. DAYS'(!) actions. NO Yak loss this day in 17 VA!!!

17 VA, 194 IAD, 848 IAP, La-5FN (S/N: 39215046, No.'46'), lost in the Sárkeresztes-W area at 16:00 local at 2000 m, 6 La-5s in combat with Bf 109s, flak. Pilot, Ml.Lt. Vladimir Zacharovich Voronov was MIA.

17 VA, 194 IAD, 848 IAP, La-5FN (S/N: 39212754, No.'54'), lost in the Sárkeresztes-W area at 16:00 local at 2000 m, 6 La-5s in combat with Bf 109s, flak. Pilot, Ml.Lt. Boris Petrovich Lazarev was MIA.

17 VA, 295 IAD, 116 IAP, 1st Sq. La-5FN (S/N: 39212113, No.’13’) Plane was lost in take-off accident at Kiskunlacháza. Pilot, Ml.Lt. Konstantin Ivanovich Kurenkov was KIFA.

5 VA (2nd Ukrainian Front) was focusing on the Budapest area. On February 4, 1945 they lost:

3 IL-2m3 (130 and 131 GvShAP)
2 La-5FN (92 IAP, 178 GvIAP)
1 La-7FN (179 GvIAP)
2 Yak-9 (31 GvIAP)

Same list by cause:
Flak: 1 IL-2, 2 La-5
Fighter: 1 IL-2, 1 Yak-9
Unknown (MIA): 1 IL-2, 1 Yak-9

(List missed the single La-7 loss, but it was due to flak. La-7FN (S/N: 45210566, No.’66’) hit by flak over Buda, disintegrated in air, while dive-bombing and strafing German defence positions. Gv.Ml.Lt. Lebedev was KIA.)

5 VA, 6 GvIAD, 31 GvIAP Yak-9, S/N: 1515321, lost at 12:50 local at 4500 m, while patrolling at Budapest-W, 5 km. 6 Yaks vs. 8 Bf 109 near Csepel-island, crashlanded at Rákoscsaba. Pilot, Gv.Lt. Ivan Andreevich Yangaev, injured, taken to field-hospital in Isaszeg. His leader, Vidanov was MIA.

5 VA, 6 GvIAD, 31 GvIAP Yak-9, S/N: 2015350, lost at 12:50 local. 6 Yak, supporting soviet troops in Buda, combat with Bf 109. Pilot, Gv.Ml.Lt. Petr Yakovlevich Vidanov was MIA. His wingman, Yangaev crashlanded and got injured.

5 VA, 14 GvIAD, 178 GvIAP La-5FN (S/N: 39213685, No.’85’) Gv.Lt. Igor Emelyanovich Sereda was hit by flak during a 2-plane recce. sortie in the Székesfehérvár area. Crashlanded at Rákospalota.

5 VA, 279 IAD, 92 IAP La-5FN (S/N: 39212054, No.’54’) at 13:25 local, at 1500 m, 4 La-5, escorting a pair of IL-2s in the Enying-Lake Velencei area. Combat with 14 Fw 190 and Bf 109, which were attacking the ILs from the sun. While defending the IL-2s, Ml.Lt. Mihail Pavlovich Dimakov’s La-5 was hit, crashlanded at his base.

Without the details of Hartmann's late claims, it is very difficult to compare records, but no soviet fighter loss in the Veszprém area.

350: 17.4.1945 - Yak-9 - POTENTIAL VICTORY - Stab I./JG 52 -

On April 17, 1945 the 5 VA, 13 GvIAD, 151 GvIAP lost a brand new Yak-9U fighter, the newest model of the Yak-9 family at that time, built in the Omsk-factory:

5 VA, 13 GvIAD, 151 GvIAP, Yak-9U (S/N: 42166074), lost in a dogfight near Rapovice. Pilot, Gv.Capt. Egor Vasilevich Vasilevskii, (25+2 victories ace, HSU - Hero of Soviet Union) was unhurt. Between 18:00-18:30 local, he led his Yak flight against Bf 109s and Fw 190s and downed two of them. At the moment of his 2nd victory of the day, his plane was hit by (report says) flak. (But it could be fighter attack too from back, below.) He quit combat and returned to his side where he belly landed successfully.

5 VA, 3 GvIAK, 6 GvIAD, 85 GvIAP, 1st Sq. has written-off a Yak-1B (S/N: 29173) due to wear and tear.

5 VA, 279 IAD, 486 IAP, La-7FN (S/N: 45210925, No.’25’) was lost to flak. While escorting IL-2 Sturmoviks, plane was hit by small calibre flak and belly landed at Mutenice(?). Pilot, St.Lt. Constantin Pavlovich Burikinun was unhurt, plane repaired later.

352: -OVERCLAIM 8.5.1945 8:30-9:20 Yak-9 Stab I./JG 52 Brünn (Brno) area: at 4000m

5 VA lost NO Yak(s) this day! (This day the 5 VA lost only 1 IL-2 (No.12854 from 90 GvShAP to flak), while No.12888 at the airbase was repaired and No.9884 was scrapped for spare parts.) No combat incident with German planes!!! The only event was a small damage to a Yak-3:

5 VA, 6 GvIAD, 85 GvIAP, 1st Sq., Yak-3 (S/N: 4529235, No.'45') minor radiator damage that was repaired at the base in only 40 minutes after a safe, easy landing.

As an addition, the 5 & 17 VA lost several planes on May 7(!), 1945 in Czech and Austria, but no Yaks were lost in the morning. On May 7, 1945 IL-2 Sturmoviks attacked the Miroslav and Znojmo (Brno-SW) area in Moravia in multiple waves throughout the day for the loss of several IL-2s. No Yak lost – just in case if the Germans messed up the days in their diaries.

It is clear, that Brno and surrounding area was taken by the ground forces of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, covered by their 5th Air Army. Their events and losses are clear, - nothing matches Hartmann’s final claim in there. But for those, who are still wondering if Hartmann’s final Yak-9 perhaps belonged to the nearby soviet 2nd, or 8th Air Army, which were fighting north of Prague, Czech, Southern Poland and Eastern Germany… Due to their distance and op. area it was impossible, but let’s play with the idea:

8 VA (4th Ukrainian Front):

Beside several 565, 637, 996 ShAP IL-2s and three (new generation) 571 ShAP IL-10 losses (No.1892604, 1890604, 1893203), the 8 VA lost a Yak-3 and a La-7FN this day, which could not be a match for Hartmann:

8 VA, 10 GvIAD, 112 GvIAP, Yak-3 (S/N: 0829227, No.’08’). Upon leaving the target between 08:00-08:50 local, this Yak-3 was lost in a mid-air collision with one of their escorted IL-2s at Olomouc-N, 7 km at 800 m. IL-2 pilot bailed out successfully, both planes went down and burned. Yak-3 pilot, Gv.Lt. Ilya Fedorovich Kuzin was KIFA. (6 Yak-3, led by Gv.Capt. Verenikin, including the pair of Raskoshnii-Kuzin escorted 8 IL-2s in the Olomouc area when the accident happened.)

8 VA, 10 GvIAD, 113 GvIAP, La-7FN (S/N: 45211829, No.’29’) Between 12:00-13:10 local, La-7 pair of Zhulidov-Polivenok was escorting 6 IL-2s in the Krzhelov area, when Gv.Ml.Lt. Mihail Fedorovich Polivenok was shot down by German flak.

2 VA (1st Ukrainian Front):

2 VA, 181 IAD, 53 IAP, Yak-9M, lost at Görlitz-NW, Germany to flak. (Approx. 240 km from Brno) Pilot, St.Lt. Petr Romanovich Korolev was KIA.

2 VA, 181 IAD, 355 IAP, Yak-9M, lost at Görlitz, Germany to flak. (Approx. 240 km from Brno) Pilot, Ml.Lt. Alexandr Dmitrievich Alifatev was KIA.

The soviet 2nd Air Army also lost many IL-2s from the 621 and 948 ShAP to flak, but no combat with the Luftwaffe!

Gabor

………………………………………………………………………………………................. ...................

Note: meaning of the soviet fighter-serial numbers (La-5s, La-7s and Yak-3s were factory marked/numbered with their plane-in-the-batch number. Soviet records sometimes show only the ‘short version’ of the AC serials, missing the ‘irrelevant’ factory part):

Yak-1B (from Saratov, Russia):
yy-xxx

Yak-3:
31-xx-yy
yy-292-xx

Yak-9:
xx-153-yy
xx-166-yyy

La-5:
39-21-xx-yy
41-21-xx-yy

La-7:
45-21-xx-yy

Where:

X = digits of batch no.
Y = digits of plane no. within the batch

31 = Aircraft Factory No.31 (Tbilisi, Georgia)
41 = code of the metal wing La-5 fighter (Gorkii factory)
153 = Aircraft Factory No.153 (Novosibirsk, Russia)
166 = Aircraft Factory No.166 (Omsk, Russia)
292 = Aircraft Factory No.292 (Saratov, Russia)
21 = Aircraft Factory No.21 (Gorkii, Russia)
39 = code of the La-5 fighter (Gorkii factory)
45 = code of the La-7 fighter (Gorkii factory)

[Håkan]

Very interesting and impressive work Gabor - thanks for sharing this effort!

//Håkan

[Denniss]

Let's just hope the soviet data is correct/complete and losses not hidden/falsified/dropped off the books.