Did KG 26 hit the cruiser Molotov in 1942?

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Hello Paul

Originally Posted by Paul Thompson

Do you mean that you have found the German report for the time of loss of the Heinkel and it matches Soviet information?

It is an educated guess. Both sides saw the burst at 02:30-02:33 msk, when "Molotov" shot down a plane, which fell in flames and had burned 3-5 minutes. At the time-frame in question it was the sole "bright and loud" event in the area.

Originally Posted by Paul Thompson

If MAS 568 did not hit the Molotov, then who did?
Was it the crew of the lost Heinkel?

"Molotov" was torpedoed a hour before MAS568 attack.
So it maybe:
1) MAS573 attack -but time of the attack (00:12=01:12 msk) doesn't match well to the time of Molotov's damage (00:26=01:26 msk)
2) Torpedo plane attack whose success remained unknown for Fliegerführer Süd (and maybe for the crew himself). But it is strange. I doubt that it was lost 1T+JH because it was obviously downed a hour after the torpedo hit., so he had enough time to report about the success and also unclear why he remained in the area so long after the attack.
3) Pure speculative version - it was a drifting mine. "Molotov" was damaged during the turning circle so it was possible to struck a mine by the stern part of the shipboard.

"Tagesabschlussmeldung Fl.Führ.Süd für 3.8.42" maybe useful for the analysis but...
I had tried to order Luftwaffe documents in USAFHRA/AFHRA 2-3 times during past 10-15 years but never once received the answer (in contrast with NARA).

Originally Posted by Paul Thompson

4.(F)/122 did not lose any other aircraft in August.

It is strange. According to Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen, 4.(F)/122 had 2 losses due to enemy action in August.

Warm regards,
Andrey