Peter Duttmann 13,11.44 claims

[HGabor]

Hi Nick, this is an interesting question. There were pilots with only 1 claim, which in the end was verified as a real victory. This is 100% accuracy.

(Eg.: Fw. Erich Pilz (6./SG.10, Fw 190F), who on November 16, 1944 at Szeged-NW claimed a DC-3 at low altitude of 75 m, in fact downed a soviet 4 GvBAK Douglas C-47A-50-DO, S/N: 42-24140. Brave Russian pilot, Gv.Capt. Petr Timofeevich Alexeenko belly landed the burning Douglas which was a complete loss. Passenger, commander of 5 GvAD DD, Gv.Col. Pavel Ivanovich Kondratev (1899-1944) died later the day in field hospital No.5202.)


Others, let's say claimed eg. 100 planes, but only 30 of them were destroyed. This is 30% accuracy. Now which one is 'better'? 30 or 1 real victory? 100%, or 30% accuracy? Statistic are tricky and hard to determine what is good, and what is bad. Overclaims were well known everywhere, including in the Royal Hungarian Air Force. Many publications describe the battle of the Hungarian 101/5. Squadron Bf 109G fighters against the 18 soviet 861 BAP Bostons and 5 Yak-9 fighters over Lake Balaton on March 23, 1945 with significant results:

Fekete Ottó zls.: Boston III. at Siófok-W
Báthy János hdgy.: Boston III. at Siófok-W
Nyári György hdgy.: Boston III. at Siófok-W
Kérges László szkv.: Yak-9 at Siófok-NW
Nánási Kálmán hdgy.: Yak-9 at Siófok-SW at 11:42.

But checking the soviet loss reports, we found, that only a single Boston was lost, all of the others, including the 659 IAP Yaks were just damaged. A-20G-30-DO Boston, S/N: 43-9582 (R-2600-23 engines: 83022, 82898) was hit, turned to the East and by rapidly loosing altitude, belly landed at Balatonfőkajár, just a few kms East of Siófok. Plane burned. Now who destroyed this plane? Fekete, Báthy or Nyári? I do not know. 3 bomber claims in a small area within a short period of time.

Crew of 17 VA, 244 BAD, 861 BAP A-20G, No. 43-9582 on March 23, 1945:

gv.ml.lt. Oganes Mkrtichanovich Dzhanzhutov (head injury upon crashlanding)
ml.lt. Evgenii Kazimirovich Sleshinskii (unhurt)
Sgt. Valentin Fodorovich Bogdanovskii (leg injury by fighter fire)
Sgt. Ivan Artemevich Lushkin (leg injury by fighter fire)

(Plane was erased from combat service in the March 26, 1945 mechanical report.)

Gabor

[Nick Hector]

Awesome stuff, Gabor!
Have you seen Ivan Lavrinenko's work on the Straits of Kerch fighting? It shows that Lipfert was astonishingly accurate in the early part of his career too. So has Peter Kassak's work for the end of the war. I have been able to construct a victory list for him as follows:

Helmut Lipfert

1st claim
30.1.43/1247
La-5
1km N of Malaya-Balabinka (PQ 08693) @ 1200m
437 IAP. Details pending

4 & 5 claims
7.3.43/0820 and 0823
U-2s (claimed as "R-5s")
Popochevskaya (PQ 86481) and Ivanovskaya (PQ 86731) @ low altitude
46 GNBAP (The Famous Night Witches), 218 NBAD. Only 2 losses: Serzhants Belyakova and Serebryakova's crews both safe. Transfer flight from Novodzhereliyevskaya to Pashkovskaya, managed to land and were sent to PARM (Barnickel claimed another, making this slight overclaiming between them)

6th claim
14.3.43/0656
IL-2 Sturmovik
Novorossisk (PQ 75731) @ 400m
Probably claimed against 47 ShAP, gunner Serzhant Nikolai Viktorovich Borisenko was a casualty this area, this date

7th and 8th claims
30.3.43/0625
LaGG-3s
Slavyanskaya – Anastasyevskaya sector.
Believe one or both of these were from 249 IAP

9th claim
20.4.43/0630
"MiG-1"
Abinskaya (PQ 85114) @ low altitude
7 IAP? Pilot possibly survived. Was this actually pilot Barabanov of 15 IAP, forcelanded near the front line with a holed radiator after combat with Bf109s?

13th claim
19.7.43/1355
Yak-1
Balkanskaya (PQ 75263) @ 3000m
42 GIAP lost 1 Yak-1 this date

16th claim
23.7.43/0554
P-39L-1 Airacobra
Kievskoye (PQ 76894) @ 500m
16 GIAP. Ml.Lt. Czikmariew KIA 6km NW of Marianskaja village (Soviet sources dated the loss as having occurred the following day)

17th claim
23.7.43/1733
IL-2 Sturmovik
Krimskaya (PQ 75264) @ 50m
Possibly 618 ShAP. Crews of Ml.Lt. Nikolay Romanovich Shapovalov and Serzhant Stepan Nikolaevich Bazhenov plus Alexey Alexeyevich Beregovskii and Nikolay Rodionovich Vynychenko all KIA (Several claims by the Gruppe in the morning and several in the late afternoon, like this one)

45th claim
5.11.43/1020
Yak-1
Kerch (PQ 66734) @ 1000m
No.1276 of 9 IAP ChF. Fedor Gerasemenk forcelanded safely in Soviet territory, aircraft ultimately written off after repairs attempted for just over a month at PARM

46th claim
6.11.43/1155
LaGG-3 ("Yak-7")
Eltigen (PQ 66732) @ close to water's surface
No. 6751 of 25 IAP. Ml.Lt. Pavel Kornienko ditched but went down with the aircraft

47th claim
11.11.43/1345
IL-2 Sturmovik mH
Katerles (PQ 66871) @ close to ground level
210 ShAP. Ml. Lt. Nikolay Mel’nikov (future HSU) WIA in the face and gunner Private Lavrentiy Maslov forcelanded safely, aircraft written off

48th claim
11.11.43/1350
LaGG-3 ("Yak-1")
Bagerovo (PQ 66533) @ close to ground level
790 IAP. Ml.Lt. Semen Ledkov KIA

49th claim
12.11.43/0851
Yak-1
Kerch (PQ 66671) @ 800m
Overclaiming, no losses at this time. Unit unidentified

50th claim
12.11.43/1047
IL-2 Sturmovik mH
Basky (PQ 6664 Mitte) @ 300m
210 ShAP. Overclaiming, two losses to Flak: Ml.Lt. Vasiliy Frolov safe but gunner WIA, aircraft written off plus Ml.Lt. Ivan Belykh and Serzhant Aleksey Uvarov both KIA

51st and 52nd claims
13.11.43/0543 and 0547
2 x Yak-1s
Bulganak – Mayak
790 IAP. Overclaiming, only one loss: Ml.Lt. Georgiy Zhadin KIA

53rd claim
14.11.43/0915
LaGG-3 ("Yak-1")
Eltigen (PQ 66732) @ close to water's surface
805 IAP or 863 IAP. One loss from each unit: 805 IAP lost Serzhant Aleksandr Ilyich Shvedov KIA whilst 863 IAP lost Ml. Lt. Valid Trakhov forcelanded safely, aircraft possibly written off

54th claim
14.11.43/1350
Katerles (PQ 66531) @ close to ground level
Misidentified? 805 ShAP IL-2s were being escorted by 979 IAP LaGG-3s in combat with Bf109s at the time, but 42 GIAP lost Lt Nikolay Smirnov and Ml.Lt Pavel Lutsenko MIA with no trace

55th claim
15.11.43/0615
Yak-1 ("Yak-9")
Kolonka (PQ 66643) @ 2500m
No. 28153 of 42 GIAP. Mlt.Lt. Nikolay Klaptenko KIA

56th claim
19.11.43/0630
Taman (PQ 66821) @ close to water's surface
No. 6616 of 25 IAP. Ml.Lt. Georgiy Kruglyakov KIA

57th claim
20.11.43/0640
LaGG-3 ("Yak-9")
Ilich (PQ 66623) @ close to water's surface
790 IAP. Ml.Lt. Pavel Shcherbakov KIA

58th claim
21.11.43/0700
IL-2 Sturmovik
Eltigen (PQ 66712) @ 150m
Overclaiming, no losses at this time. Unit unidentified

59th claim
21.11.43/0705
Yak-1
Taman (PQ 66821) @ close to water's surface
Overclaiming, no losses at this time. Unit unidentified

60th claim
27.11.43/0948
P-39 Airacobra
Gromovka (PQ 47771) @ 2500m
16 GIAP. Lt. Veniamin Pavlovich Tsvetkov (8 victories plus 2 shared at this time) WIA (burnt face and left leg) and Ml. Lt. Nikolay Belozerov bellylanded safely with 7 hits in the engine

61st claim
27.11.43/1440
LaGG-3 ("Yak-9")
Eltigen (PQ 66732) @ 800m
790 IAP. St.Lt. Anatoliy Kuzminykh KIA on 18th mission

62nd claim
29.11.43/1421
LaGG-3 ("Yak-1")
Into the sea E off Eltigen (PQ 66734) @ 2000m
863 IAP. Lt. Nikolay Eliseev safe. Aileron damaged, repaired in the field plus Ml.Lt. Dmitriy Gontsov belly landed safely with hits in the radiator, right gas tank and stabiliser, pilot returned next day (attributed to Flak). Ml.Lt. Fedor Mikhalchenko damaged by Flak and possibly finished off by Barkhorn or Lipfert

66th, 67th and 68th claims
2.12.43/0639, 0648 and 0655 LaGG-3s (the first was mistaken for a Yak-1) Kay Takyl-Feodosia sector
25 IAP-ChF. All appear to be legitimate victories: Ml.Lt. Viktor Ivanovich Verishchenko, Ml.Lt. Ivan Grigor'evich Gordievskiy and Ml.Lt. Dmitriy Andreevich Kusenko all KIA

69th and 70th victories
5.12.43/0725 and 0732
Yak-7 and Yak-1
S of Kossa Tusla and W of Taman
979 IAP. Believed to be legitimate victories

71st claim
5.12.43/1023
P-39 Airacobra
Kossa Tusla or E of Kossa Tusla @ close to ground level
66 IAP 329 IAD St.Lt. Pavel Mikhailovich Kamozin (later, 2 x HSU). Possibly finished off after being damaged by Otten or Ellendt

72nd claim
5.12.43/1355
IL-2 Sturmovik mH
SW of Kossa Tusla @ close to water's surface
7 GShAP, 8 GShAP and 622 ShAP were all in action. Total losses were just 2 IL-2s lost this date, one of them forcelanded. Three more were damaged

74th claim
9.12.43/1115
Yak-1
N of Taman @ close to water's surface
88 IAP lost one LaGG-3 written off in aircombat

75th claim
11.12.43/1137
Yak-1 ("Yak-7")
E of Mayak (Maisk?) @ 5500m
42 GIAP. Ml. Lt. Valentin Smolenko KIA

77th claim
27.12.43/1204
Mayak (PQ 66642) @ 4000m
P-39 Airacobra
Barkhorn claimed as well
These were two claims for 57 GIAP. St. Lt. Enrique Flores

79th claim
29.12.43/0712
Yak-1
W of Melikut @ 800m
790 IAP. Ml.Lt. Georgii F Martynov baled out, but drowned in Straits of Kerch

80th claim
29.12.43/1005
Li-2 ("Boston" or "Douglas")
SW of Mayak @ close to ground level
Misidentification: this was actually an Li-2 of 1 esc. 9.AP GVF. Kpt. Kurepin and one other badly WIA, 1 man KIA

83rd claim
21.1.44/1153
IL-2 Sturmovik
Churubech (PQ 66593) @ 50m
622 ShAP. Kapitan Georgii Sergeevich Karlov (AE CO) MIA
(also claimed by Gefr. Werner Cohrs a few minutes earlier)

84th claim
23.1.44/0708
Yak-7
Kerch (PQ 66643) @ 300m
6 GIAP. St.Lt. I I Protasov

86th claim
P-39 Airacobra
Kerch (PQ 66564 @ 400m)
101 GIAP. St.Lt. G M Zavodchikov

88th claim
Boston
Kossa Tusla (PQ 66 674) @ 800m
(Foennekold claimed as well)
277 BAP. Only one loss: Ml.Lt. A P Grachev and crew all KIA

95th claim
9.4.44/1440
Yak-7
Tomashevka (PQ 476123) @ 1400m
Nikolai Petrovich Skvortsov of 274 IAP? KIA on landing back at base? 15 IAP, 402 IAP, 43 IAP, 812 IAP and 9 GIAP all in action this date. Hard to determine exactly who shot down whom

96th claim
9.4.44/1558
Pe-2 German airfield at Grammatikovo (PQ 46634) @ 5300m 366 ORAP, 4 VA. Legitimate victory. Ml.Lt V.I.Nesvetayev taken POW after bellylanding, Ml.Lt I.I.Sopelchenko and St.Serzh Sila both KIA. 4 VA's only Pe-2 loss this date

108th claim
4.5.44/0644
Yak-7
Soki (PQ 36761 or 36763) @ close to water's surface
Very likely Lt. Shamil Munasipovich Abrashitov of 402 IAP, (17 kills) KIA (There was a claim by Waldmann at around the same time that is also a contender for his loss)

110th and 111th claims
5.5.44/1038 and 1050 Yak-7s Balaklava/Lapsi Bay One of these may have been Leytenant Ivanov of 402 IAP, 265 IAD. KIA this date, attributed to Lipfert or Hartmann

114th claim
6.5.44/0740
U-2
Belobek (PQ 35441) @ close to water's surface
402 IAP. Lt. Anatoliy Filonov and Semen Denisov both KIA (looking for another pilot of their unit who had been downed earlier)

120th claim
31.5.44/0804
Pe-2
Busila (PQ 78661) @ 600m Possibly 511 ORAP, 5 VA. Crew of pilot Dyadov HSU

122nd claim
4.6.44/1856
Yak-1
Sularni (PQ 78672) @ 1000m
5 VA lost 1 x Yak-9 in air combat this date plus 9 missing to unknown causes. Awaiting details of 17 VA's losses. In any case, this stands a decent chance of being a legitimate victory

123rd claim
P-39 Airacobra
Zahorna (PQ 78594) @ 1000m
129 IAP, 205 IAD lost 2 x P-39s this date
(there were at least 4 claims)

125th claim
5.6.44/1135
Yak-7
Carpiti (PQ 78673) @ 1000m
178 IAP. Legitimate victory. Pilot POW and known to have died in captivity (awaiting further details…)

127th claim
11.6.44/0945
B-17 Flying Fortress
Tateroi
15th AAF. 97th BG lost B-17F-50-DL 42-3383. Seeking details of any further losses

128th claim
24.6.44/0942
B-24 Liberator
Stefanesti
450th BG lost 41-29227, 42-78380, “Wolf Pack” 42-64454, ” Shoo Shoo Baby” 42-50304, 42-94984; 376th BG lost 42-78190, 42-78373, 42-78111, 42-52547; 96th BG lost 42-73136, 42-100259
(Seeking further details)

129th claim
27.6.44/1034 IL-2 Sturmovik Jassy (PQ 07372) @ 50m 5 VA or 17 VA. Overclaiming, no
IL-2s lost this date

145th claim
31.8.44/1020
P-51 Mustang (plus one unconfirmed)
Loewes (PQ 47257) @ 400m
52nd FG. Four definite losses: serial of one of the Mustangs was P-51 D-5-NA, 44-13295. Personnel losses were 2/Lt. Paul D Frazier of 4th FS (POW), 42-103395 of 1/Lt. Frank Edward Tomlinson of 2nd FS (POW), 2/Lt. Robert L Davis (of 2nd FS, KIA) and QP-X of Lt. Roy (?) Carlson also of 2nd FS (KIA). All of these were definitely lost to JG 52 Bf109s. A fifth Mustang crashlanded at Madna airfield, Italy upon return

146th claim
17.10.44/1038
Yak-1B ("Yak-11")
Hosszúpályi (PQ 18655) @ 3000m
73 GIAP, 6 GIAD, 5 VA. Lt. Malyavin KIA

147th claim
21.10.44/1052
La-5F
Öcsöd (PQ 07166) @ 700m
192 IAP, 279 IAD, 5 VA. Ml.Lt. Sukovyants safe

148th claim
23.10.44/1531
IL-2 Sturmovik mH
Solnok (PQ 08752) @ 1000m
131 GShAP, 7 GShAD, 5 VA. Crew of Kralkin and Babailov both KIA. Serials of Lipfert's victims were 10620 (factory No.1, Kuybishev) and 302820 (factory No.30, Moscow)

149th claim
23.10.44/1531
IL-2 Sturmovik mH
131 GShAP, 7 GShAD, 5 VA. Pilot Lapinski POW, gunner Filippov MIA. Serials of Lipfert's victims were 10620 (factory No.1, Kuybishev) and 302820 (factory No.30, Moscow)

150th claim
24.10.44/0922
Yak-9T ("Yak-7")
Újfehértó (PQ 18272) @ low altitude
150 GIAP, 13 GIAD, 5 VA. Gv.Ml.Lt. Sisko POW

151st claim
27.10.44/1217
IL-2 KR? ("IL-2 Sturmovik mH")
Büdszentmihály (New name since 1952: Tiszavasvári) (PQ 18129) @ 1200m
Was this from 207 ORAP?

152nd claim
27.10.44/1221
Yak-7
Büdszentmihály (New name since 1952: Tiszavasvári) (PQ 18156) @ 800m
Believed to be from 122 IAP. Certainly no permanent losses this date. Overclaiming

153rd claim
13.11.44/1245
Yak-1 ("Yak-3")
SE of Jászberény (PQ 98639) @ 4000m
No. 42178 or 42188 of 149 GIAP. Ml.Lt. Stepanov safe, hit at this time and place. Made a one-wheel landing and sent off for repairs

154th claim
16.11.44/1239
Yak-1B ("Yak-11")
Tura (PQ 98446) @ 1500m
122 IAP, 331 IAD, 5 VA. Kapt. Artemev KIA

155th claim
17.11.44/1105
IL-2 Sturmovik mH
Jászberény (PQ 98634) @ 600m
90 GShAP, 4 GShAD, 5 VA. Pilot Kurilov KIA, gunner Ananev fate not mentioned

156th claim
17.11.44/1110
IL-2 Sturmovik mH
Jászberény (PQ 98498) @ 400m
90 GShAP, 4 GShAD, 5 VA. Crew of Ivlev and Petrunin both WIA

157th claim
17.11.44/1320 Yak-1B ("Yak-7") Hort (PQ 98426) @ 600m 151 GIAP, 13 GIAD, 5 VA. Gv.Ml.Lt. Noskov MIA

158th claim
23.11.44/1040
Yak-1B ("Yak-9")
Atkár (PQ 98435) @ 800m
513 IAP, 331 IAD, 5 VA. Pilot Kuyanov. (The unit also lost pilot Goichenko, underclaiming? Serials were 29156 and 45168

159th claim
5.12.44/1030
Yak-9T
Hatvan (PQ 98411) @ 1500m
122 IAP, 331 IAD, 5 VA. Ml.Lt. Erko MIA

160th claim
9.12.44/1505
IL-2 Sturmovik mH
Csajág (PQ 88784) @ 1200m
989 ShAP, 136 ShAD, 17 VA. Pilot Ml.Lt. Veretelnikov MIA, Ml.Serzh Bezroukov fate not mentioned

161st claim
11.12.44/1453
Pe-2
Balatonkenese (PQ 88779) @ 4500m
39 ORAP, 17 VA. Crew of Elohov, Uhvatov and Tisenko all KIA

162nd claim
22.12.44/0937
IL-2 Sturmovik mH
Börgönd (Székesfehérvár-S, German city name: Stuhlweißenburg)
189 ShAD, 17 VA. Too many losses to be able to match up (likely a legitimate victory though)

163rd claims
23.12.44/1048
Yak-9D
Enying
Probably 659 IAP, 288 IAD, 17 VA. St.Lt. Salamatov crashlanded after dogfight with Bf109s

164th claim
24.12.44/1425
IL-2 Sturmovik mH
Seregélyes
Possibly 189 ShAD, 17 VA

165th and 166th claims
25.12.44/1208 and 1215
Yak-9T and Yak-1B (both claimed as"Yak-9s")
611 IAP, 288 IAD, 17 VA. Legitimate victorird. Some losses not yet matched to claims but known to include Capt. Konstantin Leontievich Chernogor KIA in Yak-1B 26170 near Zamoly. Lt. Nikolai Nikolaevich Kutsenko bailed out from his burning Yak-1B, S/N: 41184 also near Zamoly. Ml.lts Dmitrii Gavrilovich Kirichenko, Ivan Ivanovich Aleshkin, Aleksei Timofeevich Fadeev, Boris Aleksandrovich Yablyukhin were also downed

167th claim
2.1.45/1115
La-5
E of Bodmér area
116 IAP, 295 IAD, 17 VA. Ml.Lt. Roi safe

168
2.1.45/1145
Yak-9T
4km E of Vereb
611 IAP, 288 IAD, 17 VA. Ml.Lt. Dimov KIA

169th and 170th claims
4.1.45/0826 and 0828
IL-2 Sturmoviks
Tarján
Legitimate victories: 210 ShAP, 136 ShAD, 17 VA lost 8 IL-2s this date, including No.10967, 10987, 304836, 18853106. 17 VA lost a grand total of 17 IL-2s this date

171st claim
4.1.45/1041
Yak-9D
Bicske
897 IAP, 288 IAD, 17 VA. Ml.Lt. Konovalov WIA

172nd claim
4.1.45/1112
La-5FN
Tardos
No. 539211399/"99" of 530 IAP, 194 IAD, 17 VA. Ml.Lt. Suhorukhov KIA

173rd claim
8.1.45/1413
A-20B-DL Havoc ("Boston")
Börgönd (Székesfehérvár-S, German city name: Stuhlweißenburg)
41-2937 of 449 BAP, 244 BAD, 17 VA. Crew of Vetlov, Ionov, Tolmatski and Burtsev all KIA

174th Claim
8.1.45/1418
A-20G-40-DO Havoc ("Boston")
Börgönd (Székesfehérvár-S, German city name: Stuhlweißenburg)
43-21588 of 449 BAP, 244 BAD, 17 VA. Crew of Kruglov, Kudryavtsev, Sikov and Shestakov all KIA

175th claim
14.1.45/1211
Yak-9D ("Yak-3")
Muzsla
31 GIAP, 6 GIAD, 5 VA. Gv.Ml.Lt. Bezuglii KIA

176th claim
14.1.45/1436
Yak-9D ("Yak-3")
Muzsla
Unknown, no match to timing. Previous research stated that one of Lipfert's victories this date may have been 1615342 of 31 GIAP, 6 GIAD, 5 VA. Gv.Ml.Lt. Alexei Yefimovich Stadnichenko KIA

177th claim
16.1.45/1217
La-5
Budaörs
This one likely only damaged. 2 La-5s lost this date, both in late afternoon so this does not match. Overclaim.

178th claim
22.1.45/1324
La-5
Stuhlweissenburg
116 or 164 IAP, 295 IAD, 17 VA. Legitimate victory but hard to match up. 116 IAP lost St.Lt. Georgii Konstantinovich Zolotarskii and Ivan Danilovich Plankevich both MIA this date

179th claim
27.1.45/1445
IL-2 Sturmovik
7km NW of Adony
951 ShAP, 306 ShAD, 17 VA. Pilot Lt. Filonovich KIA, gunner Abrosimov MIA

180th claim
22.2.45/1400
La-7 ("La-5")
Bart
179 GIAP, 14 GIAD, 5 VA. Gv.Ml.Lt. Pinko WIA

181st claim
22.2.45/1625
Yak-3
Bina
Believed to be an overclaim, no matchable loss

182nd claim
25.2.45/1053
Bf109 (claimed as a "Yak-9")
Altsohl/Zvolen
This was most likely W.Nr. 166248/"Yellow 9" of Grupul 9. Adj. Stag Av. Traian Darjan KIA. If genuinely a Yak: likely 513 IAP, 331 IAD, 5 VA, several losses this date

183rd claim
8.3.45/1410
IL-2 Sturmovik
Soponya
136 ShAD or 189 ShAD. Several losses this date, attributed to Flak but this could possibly be one of them

184th claim
11.3.45/1035
Yak-9M ("Yak-3")
Suborgarol/ Siófok
611 IAP, 288 IAP, 17 VA. Lt. Kutsenko KIA

185th claim
11.3.45/1405
Yak-3
Siófok
Overclaiming? No such permanent loss, - probably damaged, or crashlanded on airfield

186th claim
13.3.45/1013
Yak-9M ("Yak-7")
Pákozd
866 IAP, 288 IAD, 17 VA. Lt. Kamenetskii safe

187th claim
14.3.45/1207
La-5FN
Székesfehérvár (German city name: Stuhlweißenburg)
39211637/"37" of 164 IAP, 295 IAD, 17 VA. Ml.Lt Iozhitskii POW

188th claim
14.3.45/1211
IL-2 Sturmovik
Pákozd
672 ShAP, 306 ShAD, 17 VA. Lt. Mamontov KIA and Serzhant Kovalev both KIA

189th claim
17.3.45/1615
IL-2 Sturmovik
Lake Velencei (Velencei-tó)
615 ShAP, 189 ShAD, 17 VA. Crew of Kapt. Nikitin and Gv.Serzhant Apalkov both OK. Was this IL-2 No.1873298 with engine No.257858, downed this date?

190th and 191st claims
20.3.45/1533 and 1541
IL-2 Sturmoviks
Székesfehérvár, Várpalota, Gúttamási, Öskü
210 ShAP, 136 ShAD, 17 VA. Losses were 11082/"White 8" of Ml.Lt. Petr Alekseevich Taranovich and St.Serzh Victor Konstantinovich Ogarkov both WIA (crashed NW of Guttamasi) and 1871797/"White 23" of Aleksei Dmitrievich Belyashin and Serzh. Phillip Fomich Verbitski both KIA (crashed at Oesku). These are the two victories that he achieved while drunk

192nd claim
21.3.45/1158
La-5FN
Eastern end of Lake Balaton
848 IAP, 194 IAD, 17 VA. St.Lt. Vasilev KIA

193rd claim
21.3.45/1530
Yak-9M (“Yak-5”)
Felsőgalla
No. 4515340 of 179 IAP, 331 IAD, 5 VA. Lt. Viktor Yakovlevich Ragulin MIA

194th claim
27.3.45/1415
Yak-9T
Neutra
122 IAP. Petr Andreevich Filatov

195th claim
27.3.45/1418
IL-2 Sturmovik
Neutra
90 GShAP, 4 GShAD. Gv Maj. Aleksandr Grigorievich Kuzin POW and Starshina Alexei Vasilievich Molchanov POW (went to gulag due to POW status)

196th claim
27.3.45/1655
Neutra
27 OKRAP. Dmitri Vasileyich Radichuk

197th claim
28.3.45/1712
Yak-3
Neutra
149 GIAP. Mitrofan Yefimovich Koval

198th claim
1.4.45/1605
La-7
Dioszeg
177 GIAP. Vasili Nikitovich Matveev

199th claim
5.4.45/0945
La-7
Gairing
177 GIAP. Petr Nikolaevich Efimov

200th claim
8.4.45/1554
La-7
Hainburg
486 IAP. Alexei A Spiridonov

201st claim
9.4.45/1720
La-7
Lundenburg
(Arno Fischer claimed 5 minutes earlier)
179 GIAP. Pilots Aleksander Tikhonovich Machankov and Vasili Vasilievich Valujev both MIA

202nd claim
14.4.5/1500
Yak-9
Stokerau
Day's Yak losses include Nikolaj Vasilyevich Kharitonov HSU, OL, 2 x ORB, OAN, OPW 1st class and Red Star (520 IAP?) baled out but struck tailplane, WIA and Boris Baranov (his wingman) returned but DOW plus Yak-9M No.5315311 of 659 IAP and Yak-3 No.310292 of 897 IAP, Ml.Lt. Dmitry Antonovich Ermak, KIA over Ruckersdorf

[HGabor]

Thanks Nick, this is great. I have found Lipfert's claims extremely accurate too. Glad to see that others confirm this by researching other periods of his combat service. To me, -at least among the Axis fighter aces, flying over Hungary- definitely Lipfert was the most reliable, top ace.

Else. What I found interesting in the soviet documents is that the soviet pilots regularly confused the Bf 109 and Fw 190 models in the air. (vice versa) Especially is the cloudy, dark, fall, or winter months. It is clear that an SG.10 Fw 190F downed the C-47A on November 16, 1944 near Szeged, yet the soviets thought it was a Bf 109.

Cheers,
Gabor

[Nick Hector]

Wow... More amazing attachments. Many thanks!
Do you have much on Foennekold's claims during the period shortly before he was killed?
Ivan demonstrated that he was the best over the Straits of Kerch

[HGabor]

Sorry, I have no info on that time period.
Gabor

[Nick Hector]

No problem, Gabor.
Always great to discuss this subject with you

[Stig Jarlevik]

Gabor/Nick

May I extend my congratulations from Sweden as well.
Triggering Gabor to partly lift the lid off his extended files on Soviet aircraft over Hungary is fascinating to say the least.

Thank You both and Seasons Greetings as well

Cheers
Stig

[Nick Hector]

Cheers, Stig. I hope the season is good to you too. Personally, I cannot wait for this awful year to end and for the 20s to bring better things.

For Gabor,

Returning to your instance of the Bostons claimed by the Hungarian pilots, on my own database I tend to try and mark out the most likeliest claim, and/or list the loss(es) alongside the claims as if each has an equal chance of having inflicted the loss or took a share in it.
I try to be as fair as possible.

I also think it's great that guys like you go further than just making unsubstantiated comments about a pilot's honesty and accuracy in claiming and actually go so far to back up what you are saying with examples of specific combats.

[HGabor]

Thanks Nick, we try what we can ;-) As of the March 23, 1945 dogfight with the 861 BAP Bostons... probably I spoke too fast. I checked the notes and Fekete Ottó zls. ("Ens. Otto Black") reported that the plane he attacked at the end of the bomber formation "exploded" in the air. Well, now we know that none of the Bostons "exploded into pieces", but the left engine of 43-9582 caught fire and "exploded". If you fly behind a plane and an engine flies around you in small pieces, then you see fire and smoke, perhaps you would also describe it as "exploded". Anyways, the word "exploded" is dramatic enough to think that the downed Boston was under Otto's fire. Since I have no other statements from the other 2 guys, I think 43-9582 was probably Otto's victim, - if you have to choose a name. See service record and ferry route of 43-9582 through Brazil, Mid-Africa, Iran to the USSR.

The soviet 861 BAP Boston formation this time was led by Capt. Ivan Grigorevich Petuhov in A-20B, S/N: 41-3230, '28'. Other crews that reported (Hungarian) fighter attacks over Lake Balaton:

A-20G, S/N: 42-86850 ('24') - Lt. Boris Grigorevich Sverdlovskii
A-20G, S/N: 43-10084 - Lt. Constantin Ivanovich Podkopalov
A-20G, S/N: 43-21405 ('8') - Ml.Lt. Alexei Savelevich Lilienko

Obviously two of these were the other 2 Bostons, that the Hungarian fighters (~Báthy & Nyári) claimed, but finally they all landed back safely on their bases with different damages.

And an interesting question: soviet records say that C-47A, S/N: 42-24140 was lost in Hungary on November 16, 1944. American record of the same plane says it was delivered to Australia. (Check my prev. attachments.) How did this C-47A end up in Soviet service if she was delivered to Australia? Any idea?

Cheers,
Gabor

[Nick Hector]

I really must own the fact that you have stumped me with that one.
Usually these things turn out to be incorrectly recorded details on the part of some desk-clerk somewhere but it's not fair to assert that until one has pinpointed the error