Fw190s in action 18 March 1945 Stettin, Poland

[keith A]

"Bakaev Stepan scored more victories on March 18, 1945, when a group of pilots of 515 IAP covering its troops intercepted a large group of FW-190 Jabos in the Stettin-Son area at 18:30 and in the 10-minute battle, the group dispersed after destroying 5 enemy aircraft without loss. Two FW190 with bombs brought down by Bakhaev, two more destroyed by a second lieutenant" and another "Fokker" on account of Lt. Kosenko. So on 515 IAP pilots prevented a bombing of their forces."

Were Fw190 fighter bombers in action at this location on this date. The 515th (possibly flying Yak-3 and Yak-9u) claimed five with SrLt A.S. Bakhaev claiming two, another pilot adding two more and Lt Kosenko a fifth. They were presumably Fw190 F/G fighter bombers.

In this confused time are there any LW units recording losses. 515th IAP was part of the 1st Byelorussian Front.

best regards

Keith

[Nick Beale]

You might find something in the Luftflotte 6 diary annexes which you can download free from the Bundesarchiv. I'd suggest files RL 7-6/16, /17, /18, /19 and /20 plus RL 7-6/22. These include daily operational summaries of units' sortied, claims and losses.