I-18 or I-16 Rata by Stengel of 6./JG 51?

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

There are two information about victory of Olt Walter Stengel of 6./JG 51 on 22.06.41 early in the morning.

1. He had claimed "I-18" at 7.27 a.m. (the list of Tony Woods) with 2 other pilots, who claimed "I-18" too, most probably there were MiG-3s.

2. He in his memories, he is writing about claming "Rata" - I-16.

May someone can add any information, which let to find the true?


Regards.
mw

[Johannes]

Hi

I read the micro films as a I-18, which I took to be MiG-1.

Regards

Johannes

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Thanks, I think so, but in this regiment were not MiG-1 but MiG-3.
It was 126 or 124. IAP of 9. SAD.
Regards,
mw

[markjsheppard]

Mirek

I doubt you could tell the difference between a MiG-1 and MiG-3 in combat?

regards

Mark

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

No, I can't, but the fact is fact. It was no MiG-1 (a little shorter) but MiG-3.
Only 2 units had then MiG-1s, One did not ever flown them on 22.06.41.

It was the same with Germans, which called it as I-18 or I-61.

Regards,
mw