Historical validation of the German victories of 10/22/44.

[Courtois Laurent]

Since I was interested in the disappearance of Lohmeyer, which led me to read all the Soviet archives for aviation in East Prussia. I therefore tried to validate the victories of the Luftwaffe that day.

On October 22 the VVS lost 16 aircraft according to the report of the 1VA.
8 planes shot down by the Flak (6 Il2- 1 Pe2 – 1 Yak 9). In reality, according to the 276 ADB report, this Pe-2 was hit by 1 Me-109. Like what, it is always necessary to cross the sources.
2 aircraft lost in aerial combat: 1 La-5 and 1 Yak 9. (+ 1 previous Pe-2)
5 aircraft missing: (4 Il-2 and 1 Pe2)
1 aircraft victim of an air collision. 1 (Yak 9).

Looking down the echelon, reports from air divisions tell us

129 IAD, loses 1 La-5 which is shot down: pilot of 805 IAP Jr. MARKOV did not return from a combat mission, was hit by an enemy fighter, reached his territory, while landing outside the airfield in the VILKAVISHKIS area, the pilot was shipwrecked. The pilot died.
This victory was not claimed by the Germans.

That of the 130 IAD tells us that at the 909th IAP, in the Maygunischken sector, S-Lt Volkodav shot down 1 FW 190 at 2:43 p.m. which crashed 3 km NW of Gross Trakehnen.
Losses: During a fight with FW 190s, in the Maygunischken sector, S-Lt Alekseev was shot down and crashed 2 km SE Gumbinnen.

This is the victory of Hptm. Joachim Brendel, of Stab III./JG 51 who claims a Yak-9 in the sector £25,367: at 1,000m. at 12:36 p.m. (Movie C. 2032/I Anerk: Nr)

1 other Yak 9 shot down by the Flaket and a last 1 Yak-9 destroyed during an aerial collision with an IL-2 at Balsupe aerodrome.

6 Gv ADB: 1 Pe2, missing. the crew of the 135th Guards Bap, on Pe-2 No. 15 | 321 did not return from the combat mission. According to the report of the crews of the groups, while leaving the target (Gumbinnen), the plane fell behind the group and fell with a smoking engine. The fate of the crew and the aircraft is not known. => the regiment's report indicates that following engine damage the crew parachuted over into the Soviet lines. No encounter with enemy aircraft. time of the facts around 3:30 p.m.

276 BAD: 1 Pe2 shot down by Flak, according to the 1 VA report, but the division report gives another version of the facts.
58 BAP; 3:30 p.m. bombardment of Gumbinnen station and the town, above the target the bombers were attacked by 4 Me 109s, one of which was shot down by a machine gunner.
Airplane 58 BAP, pilot ml. l-a MARYUVA, navigator ml. Lieutenant YUSIN and Sergeant gunner-radio operator SITYUK were hit by an enemy fighter over the target, with a burning right engine, they regained the Soviet lines. According to the sighting of the protective Yak-9Ds, it landed at 4 km each. south of the town of EIDTKUNEN. The status of the crew and the aircraft are being clarified.

This is Victory Ltn. Günther Josten of 3./JG 51 claiming Pe-2 in the sector £25,397: at 2,500 m.at 1:40 p.m. (3:40 p.m. Soviet time), (Film C. 2032/I Anerk: Nr.)

In conclusion, no overclaiming this day but underclaiming.

Does JG51 have any casualties today? Did the gunner really shoot down an Me-109 ?

This work can be done for all the other German victories over East Prussia, it is just enough that the specialists of the luft are willing to share information on the German losses to complete the work.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

German losses in 1944 are missing from the usual sources.

According to the Luftwaffe loss summary database, III./J.G.51 lost on 22 October 1944 three aircraft "destroyed by gunfire from enemy aircraft during operational flight, observed by enemy" and one "damaged by gunfire from enemy aircraft during operational flight, observed by enemy", and IV./J.G.51 had one "damaged by gunfire from enemy aircraft during operational flight, not observed by enemy".

3 SG groups reported each an aircraft "destroyed by gunfire from enemy aircraft during operational flight, observed by enemy": I./SG 1, I./SG 4 and II./SG 77. But I am not sure these losses occured over East Prussia.