Gerhard Barkhorn's opponents

[Nick Hector]

Hello all,
I recall reading a while back on this forum that in general, the Abschussmeldungen of Gerhard Barkhorn can reliably be matched to Soviet loss listings.

I know the following:

His claim of 27.5.42 was a Pe-2 of 24 BAP, 223 BAD of 2 VA. Losses included aircraft of Mayor Gorbko, bellylanded, died shortly after plus the unit CO, Podpolkovnik Ivan Kosenko.

His claim of 22.7.42 was a Hurricane. 235 IAD, eight losses to JG 52 this day??

His claim of 29.10.42 was a Yak-1. Possibly Podpolkovnik Dmitriy Leontyevich Kalarash (in a LaGG-3) of 402 IAP, 236 IAD. Said to be KIA in a Taran or WIA and returned home, DOW

His claim of 3.11.42 was a LaGG. Yak-1s and LaGG-3s of 6 GIAP, 25 IAP and 62 IAP of VVS ChF involved

His claims of 17.12.42 were 3 x Yak-1s. Day's Yak-1 victims over Stalingrad include Starshiy Leytenant Ivan Antonovich Manojlov HSU (postumous), OL and ORB of 774 IAP, KIA

His claims of 9.1.43 were 2 x Yak-1s. 236 IAP. In the case of his second claim, Mladshiy Leytenant Vasiliyev bellylanded and managed to escape before Barkhorn strafed the wreck.

The next day, another Yak-1. 9 GIAP. Podpolkovnik Lev Shestakov bellylanded, WIA (again, wreck destroyed by strafing)

Amongst his claims on 12.2.43 were two I-16s. 236 IAD, 5 VA. Two losses. Any further info?

On 30.4.43 he got a Spitfire: 57 GIAP, 2 losses this day: Serzhant Marchenko MIA and Starshiy Leytenant Ordinartsev bellylanded in the Fyodorovskoye region.

On 4.8.43, he claimed two La-5s. The day's La-5 losses included Petr Kucherenko of 302 IAD, KIA over Kharkov. Does his loss pertain to one of Barkhorn's claims?

On 24.8.43, he claimed two Yak-1s. The day's Yak losses included Yak-7B of Starshiy Leytenant Mikhail Starzhinsky of 487 IAP (later 146 GIAP) KIA

On 5.9.43 he claimed two LaGGs. One of these was from 41 GIAP, 2VA. Kpt. Nikolay Klepikov KIA

On 28.11.43, he claimed 3 x Yak-1s. The day's Soviet Fighter losses included Podpolkovnik Petr Mikheevich Ivanov of 866 IAP, KIA over Zaporozhe. Did Barkhorn shoot him down?

Amongst his claims of 28.12.43, are 5 Yak-1s and an Airacobra. The day's Soviet Fighter losses in the Kerch area included Akhmet-Khan Tallovich Kankoshev HSU, OL and ORB x 2, KIA. Again, could Barkhorn have brought him down?

On 4.5.44 he claimed a Yak-7. The day's losses included Lt. Shamil Abrashitov of 402 IAP, (17 kills) KIA off Kap Kherzonzez. Any further details?

On 30.5.44 he claimed 2 x Airacobras. The day's P-39 losses included Mladshiy Leytenant S V Akinshin of 129 GIAP, KIA. Any further details?

The next day he claimed 3 x Airacobras (among others). Could he have downed Leytenant N F Burgunov of 129 GIAP, KIA?

His last claim on 16.11.44 was an La-5. Was this Boris Vasilevich Zhigulenkov of 240 IAP, KIA?

If anyone has any further information on the pilots and crews of Soviet aircraft that were claimed shot down by Gerhard Barkhorn, please share with me, either on-board or by way of Private Message.

Many thanks
Nick

[RossGmann]

The following link http://www.luftwaffe.cz/barkhorn.html may be of interest if you are not aware of it.

Kink regards

Ross