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    GEORGE MELLINGER Is a mamber of the Twin Gities Aero Historians, » group which has boon in existence for over three decades, and which has produced several other intemationally known, aviation authors. He is aise fan associate of the Russian Aviation Research Group. This is his fourth book for Osprey. JIM LAURIER is 2 native ‘of New England, taving grown up in Now Hampshire and Massachusetts, He has been drawing since he could hold ‘2 pencil, and throughout his life he has worked in many ‘mediums, ereating artwork on a variety of subjects. He combines his lave of history ‘with his ftying experiences to create some of the most realistic and historically accurate aviation paintings: ‘and profiles seen today. He has worked on the Osprey Aviation Hat since 2000. OSPREY AIRCRAFT OF THE ACES* +74 Soviet Lend- ica Fighter Aces of World War 2 SERIES EDITOR: TONY HOLMES OSPREY AIRCRAFT OF THE ACES® > Ta Soviet Lend-Lease Fighter Aces of World War 2 George Mellinger Front cover [At dusk on 26 December 1982, Jeadiing 436 IAP (Fighter Aviation Regiment) ace Lt Nikolai Kuznetsov ‘was part of s formation of six PetOKc on a fighter escort mission for eight h2s sent to attack troop reserves in the beleaguered German ‘stranghold of Vetikiye Lut, Boasting = vital rif junction, ‘the latter town, which was now ‘totally surrounded by Soviet troops, had been the Wehrmacht's most important defensive basa in the (Central Sector ‘On their way to the target, the Soviet fighter pilots easily, ‘chased off » group of BI 1095 ‘that attempted to intorcept the ‘Sturmoviks, but on the formation’s return flight they were sgsin attacked by German fighters. This ‘time the BI 103s and newly-arrived, Fwy 190s succeeded in ponstrating the 426 1AP formation and pressed home their attacks on the vulnerable -2s, which in response started to mangouvee into a detensive circle (counter-clockwise) fat a height of just 300 metres above the snow-covered pine forests. Seven of the Sturmoviks made it into the formation, but the eighth sircraft, which had been damaged bby flak over the target, was struck by several eannon shells rom a pursuing BI 109 ss it attempted to ‘lose the circle. Sesing his comrade {in troubio, Kuznetsoy immediately ‘went to his aid, as he recalled in his Post-mission report: “The Messerscheitts continued to attack the Sturmovik, not sliowing {them to close ther circle, My machine's engine was at full power ‘and maximum speed, but it seemed {that my sivcraft approached the ‘enemy only very sfowly. The German suddenly opened fire on ‘one of the straggling lyushins. Recognising the danger, the I-2 pilot made sharp left bank in ‘order to reduce the distance and ‘catch up to the other lyushins, ‘thereby closing the cree, The “Messer” turned direct after him, ‘preparing to fire, but then the Fascist ‘blundered right into my gunsight. | iced s long stream of tracers into ‘the cabin and the “Messer tumbled cearthward, "The Sturmovike’ circle closed at ‘9p slinude of 300 metres, but the ‘German fighters, vexed by thelr losses, continued to fing Fine published in Givat Heiuaia tn 2006 by Ospecy Publiching land Howse, Wese Way, Borley, Oxted, OX2 0PH 4443 Park Avenite South, Newe York, NY, 10016, USA E-mail; info@oxpreypublishing com {© 2006 Osprey Publishing Limeed All rights reserved. Apart fiom any fiir dealing for she purpose of private smudy research, crticiam wf teview, as permimed under the Copyright. Design and Patents Act 1988, no part of this publication: may be teproduceal, siored in a teereval stem, transmitted in any form orbyany means, electronic. lecrres chémical, mechanical, oprical, photocopying, recording or ocherwise wishout priar written permission, All enquiries should be addressed ta the publisher ISBN 10; 1 84603 041 2 ISBN 13-978 1 $4603 041 3 ted by Tony Holmes Page design by Stuart 8¢ Tony Truscote Typeset im Adobe Garamond and Univers Cover Arrwork by Mark Postlethwaite Aircraft Profiles by fim Laurier Index by Alan Thatcher Originated by PPS Grasmere, Lees, UK Printed and bound in China through Bookiuilders 06.07 0F 09 10 10987654321 Fiesta fall book pbs by Oia plese eontac: NORTH AMERICA, Osprey Direct, clo Random House Distribution Center, 400 Hahn Road, Weseminster. MDD 21157 F-maikinfo@ospreyairecrcom ALL OTHER REGIONS Osprey Ditece UK, P.O. Box M0 E-mails inforPospreydincer.co.uke srewecespreypublishing.com INB2FA.UK ‘llinghorough, Norehane ‘thomsalvas at the bombers from BF 109. This kil took his tally all sides, However, they no longer to 26 victories (14 individual and posed a great danger to the I-25. 12 shared! and eamed Kuznetsov ‘Soon, the Germans gave up the the congratulations of his regiment fight and withdrew. The damaged ‘commander. The later duly noted ‘Sturmovik made ito the forward that the ace hed scored hie 26th kill area and force-landed in our ‘on his 26th birthday, and on the ‘territory. The rest returned to their 26th day of the month! That evening Blfield at low level, supported all in the 438 1AP moss, Nikolai the way home by our fighters” Kuznetsov was presented with Upon roturning to base, Lt 1 huge cake marked with the Kuznetsov reported the successful __ chocolate figures '26-26' complation of his mission and was (Cover artwork by Mark credited with the destruction of Postlethwaitel CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE HURRICANES FOR RUSSIA 6 CHAPTER TWO TOMAHAWKS AND KITTYHAWKS 23 CHAPTER THREE KOBRAS 45 CHAPTER FOUR OTHER LEND-LEASE FIGHTERS 78 APPENDICES 85 COLOUR PLATES COMMENTARY 93 INDEX 96 CHAPTER ONE HURRICANES FOR RUSSIA fior to the outbreak of World War 2, a number of western Pena cms a gn pg ss wh U8 rcraft manufacturers For virtually any military types to be had, and the number of dese contracts grew rapidly followi he German invasion of Poland. The US government, observing strict rules of neutrality, sanctioned these deals on literally.a ‘cash-and-casry" basis, However, many of these conunets could not be fulfilled before che iterieg effectively saw much of wesfern verman hands hy the summer of 1940, Indeed, a number of these outstanding, onders were taken ups by the Bricish Direce Purchase Commission, which was desperate to find aircraft chat could help bolster the ranks of the Royal Air rope fall into C Force (IEAB) and Flece Air Arm, which were now left alone to fight the git of the Lufawalle. The British were initially very graceful to reccive liserally hundreds of Hawk H-81 (which tt christened she Tomahawk 1) andl P-39 Airacobra fighters, ay well as ather combat aircraft pes such as Maryland and Boston bombers In March 1941 the US government enacted the lend-lease act, which teansferred bili of thousands of military aireralt, to America’s World War 2 allies. ‘The number oF aircraft cransferred can be calculated only approx the rarals published olten include airframes acquired by direct purchase, Initially, this act was incended co aid only Britain, buralter Germany invaded che USSR on 22 June 1941 and Americs was dragged into the ct in the wake of the Japanese attack o Pearl Harbor, lend-lease ent was made available wo all nsarnd supplies includ ely, as equi Prime Minister Winston Churchill referred to lend-leasé as “This most generous act’, bur he was wenng. Mare generous vill was his awn offer in August 1941 co provide massive military aid to the Sovier Union — an expscted o Niai Germany and the USSR had become allies with the sutprise my onkya few weeks earlier, and a Furless grateful recipi Although on the surfaces non-aggression pact between the ewe Furapean superpowers, the deaf also stipulated ‘spheres of interest’ for the wo caled the fates of the independent rations of Poland. Finland, Estonia, | ef the Molotov: Ribbentrop Pact in Moscow on 23 August 1939. countries which 4a, Lithuania and Rumania The first country to feel the effects of this pact was Poland, which was invaded by Germany on L Seprember 1939. Following ies conquest, pars of eastern Poland were handed overro the USSR. Qn 3) November 193 Witwer War against Finland, and both Britain and France prepared to send weapons and troaps toassist inland although the Finns succeded in signing peace treaty with the Soviets the Soviet Union launched the heforeany materiel help could aerive fram che west. Gen AA Kuznetsov prepares to take off from Vaenga in ex-No 151 Wing Hurricane Ntk iB ¥5252 in late October 1941. This Gloster-built aircraft had been issued new to the RAF just weeks prior to it being despatched to the USSR aboard HMS Argus (via G F Petrov) ‘On 10 May 1940 Germany launched its Blizchrieg effimsivein western Europe, with its war machine running om Soviet petrol! But lor chance, [Britain and France could well have been ar was with the USSR 190 by smid-1940, with the RAF making contingency plans tor bombing Baku and the Caucasian oilfields Grom its Midlle Eastern bases. And the Sovietsalso made plans oftheir own ta bomb- Cyprus. the Suez Canaland other Brieish hases from the Crimea ane Transcaussisus: One reason why Premier Joseph Stalin was surprised by Germany's invasion on 22 June 1941 was thac he anticipated war with Britain instead. However, when the Wehrmacht and the Luftwafle crush Sonciet mnilhiary forces in jusc a matter of days, Churchill quickly set aside his ti-Bolshcvik crusade and offered assistance to the USSR from Britain’s already inadequate arsenal. Initially, this took the Form af just two squadrons of ourdared Hurricanes, bur eventually Bricain and Canada would supply 5211 aircraft co the Seviers. A further 11,450. 24-yea would be sent by the USA. Thegteat majority of these aircraft wete fighters Hurricanes, Spires and more than 550’ Temahawksand Airicobras purchased from America, but provided from British stocks RAF Hurnicanes In mid-August 1941 the RAF despatched No 151 Wing ua the Soviet Union. Led by Wy Car HN -G Ramsbortom-sherwood, the wing was comprised of No 81 Sqn, under the command of Sqn Ldr Tony Rook, and No 134 Sga, with Sqn Ldt Tony Miller as its 40 Hurricane Mk IIBs berwoen chem, and somic of these aircraft were ‘The units shared rransported to norhem Russia aboard the escort carrier HMS Argus, whilst others werecrated upyand shipped to Archangel Reaching their fiying-off point on 7 September, the Hurricanes embarked in Argus toak off from the carrier and landed ar Vaenga, ten miles narth of Murmansk, in she Soviet Arctic. No 151 Wing performed its first patrols over the ncarby frontline on 11 September, and beeween then and 18 October RAF pilots claimed 15 kills for the loss of ane of viggnu uos SaNvOIMUA CHAPTER ONE Gon A A Kuznetsov emerges from another ex RAF Hurricane Mk 1 following an orlentation fight in ‘October 1981, Note the painted ‘out British roundel om the fuselage via G FPetrov) ‘This official porwratt of Boris Safonov ‘was taken soon after he hat received his HSU on 16 September 1941 (via G F Petrov) their own. When not engaging the Luftwaffe, they also: provided Savice pilots with conversion the Hurricane, Lu late October the Hurricanes were handed over to the USSR, andl the British contingent recurned home, iningonte No 151 Wing's Soviet hosts at Vaenga had been 72 SAP-SF (Com- posite Aviation Regiment-Northern Fleet), assigned to the Naval Air Fleet's Northern Fleet Air Fores tthe latter was commanded by Maj Gen AA Kumersav, whilse 72 SAP- SF wasled by Col Geo Also prominent ar Vacnga-was ace Capt Boris Safonov, CO of the regi- i Gubans, aient’s1-16-equipped 4th Sqn. Being the ranking aviator ar Vaenga. Gen Kuznetsov became the firse Soviet pilot to ly am RAF Hurricane, followed soon after hy Safonie Boris Safonov was a remarkable officer. Having completed flying ng in 1934, he became oncof the early pilots to master the I-16, He seems 10 have been faisly reserved, perhaps even something of a loner. When not flying or performing other duties, Safonov spent his time readling military and technical literature and working out personal tactics. He was ala dedicated to training new pilots and helping thern fearn the air combat. Safonoy somehow also found time to study literature, historyand thearts, and to marry and havea son Fellow 72 SAP-SE pilor and future Hurricane ace Nikolai Goluidnikov remembered him as quiet and studious, paying great attention to de 10 learn everything possible from the engagement. He did not smoke ordrink vodk Russian pilot). contonting himself with only a glass of wine. Safonov spoke so andl analysing even, the most minor bac re traits ina yy and never swore, excepr in combat, when the ‘mother language’ Mowed freely. He did not like pretension and show, and was modest about his victories, Indeed, Golodnikov attributes vo ins the rule More than one of your victories in a battle you newer credit to your own score’. Safonov routinely distributed his kills wo other pilots in his unit: By the time he converted to the Hurricane in the aurumn of 1941 Safonov had already scored 14 individual and 6 shared victories wich the 1-16. On 16 September, just days after the Hurricanes had arrived at Waenga, the ace had been rewarded for his efforts in the face of ‘oventhctming odds by being madea Hero ofthe Sevier Union (HSU) for ‘his first 11 kills. When che Hurricanes were ransfersed to VVS (Military Air Force) hern Fleet Air Force formed 78 FAP-SE (ighter Aviation. Regi thera Fleet) to operate the fighters. Bors Safonov was promoted to licurenanc colonel and sent co command thi regiment, and he took with him a cadre of the best pilots from 72 SAP-SF to the new unit A number of these individuals would sulisequenily contml, the achieve fame flying Hurricanes and Kictyhawks in the Far North. Huricanes from 78 IAP-SF fy in bomber during an escort mission over the frozen wastes af northern Russia in the winter of 1947-42 Despite the freezing temperatures, the pilots are flying wlth their canopies opan Ivia G F Petrov Ast commander, Safonov gained 4 reputation for being a leader of ourstanding organisational ahilty as well as a superb tactician. He n discipli- primanding piles for was also a serious and ravagances such as burting the airfield and doing victory rolls: On another occasion, when he believed a pilot had brol sumed to base prematui ca off combar Safonov confronted him and- warmed him that if uhere was any further repetition, he would shoot the man himself On the other hand, he could also early 1942 fi fhe foal en his men. For example, pre Hurricane ace andl Hsu ov shot lawn 4 Soviet Pe-2 bomber alter broughe him before 2 tribunal, but Safonay argued on his behalf and succeeded in getting sll ost him dropped. Afterwards, he tld Kurceokov, “Well certainly area good shor there were over 100 bullet holes in cipient Sergei Kure ing it for a Bl 110, Higher authorit charges ag fellow. Yi the homber. Well done, bur in furure pI case confine your good shootin fo the enemy —you knew, the ones with the black erases’ Safonov only scored two kills lying the Hurricane, namely a BF109.on 17 December 194] and an He 111 two weeks later. This may seem a etic Circle in modest return, but conditions foraerial combat above the A. the winter months were incredibly harsh. A typical day might produce onlyan hour ortwo oflight ir forflying. assuming thar there was no snow in the airor on the ground, And Safonov did noc remain with 78 LAP-SE for long following 72 SAP-SF's redesignation as 2 GSAP-SE (Guards Composite Aviation Regiment-Northern Fleet) on 18 January 1942 Iescemed unfair that che pilots who had earned the Guards distinction swere now with the 78 IAP-SE, soon 23 March Safonov rerurned to rake had taken as his cadre the previous October. Three days-easlicr, Safonov w. informed that he had been awarded che British Distinguished Flying Cross. By then 2 GSAP-SE had begun transitioning onto the P-40E Kieryhawk, s victories with the Hurricane command of his old regiment, bringing with himn che pilors he ional Safonov had no further opportunity w score addi Prostematic HuRRicaNe ‘Within cays of their arrival ar Vaenga, the Hurricanes began to exhibit the problems that eared the type a poor reputation in Suvier serview. Tn fairness, by late 1941 the Hawker design was already obsolescent. and many of the carly examples sent co Russia had previously seen considerable service with the RAF — most of the Mk TIs sent in 1941-42 were rebuilt Mk Is. With a ung iy faster than the old Polikarpov 1-16 that they were meant to eepla considerably slower than the BF 109E/Fs ranged against dem in he notls Lkiwalfe. The Hl the jcane’s petfoiance in a dive was also less than CHAPTER ONE inspiring, and the fighter did not manoeuvre well in the vertical plane. However, itdid manocuvie well ia the horizontal plane, and retained its sabi as gun plarfirm in the vightest of rurms. By consensus, the Hurricane could be flown by almost anyone, and ir would have been a very suitable ‘touring’ aitcrafi. However, itwasnot up toseratch asa fighterin the eyes of batrle-hardened Soviet pilots. The fw other redeeming qualities exhibited lyy the Hurricane from # Rawssian perspective included a roomy and comfortable cockpit with superior visibility. The lavter point was particularly appreciated, as locally buile aircraft were plagued by poor quality canopy transparencies throughout the war, This mcant chat the superiority of British glass ~ particulatly the srenouted jas — was mach appreciated. Inidally, Ressian pilots were reluctant un fly the Hurricanes with their canopies closed, having flown nothing bur open-cackpic 1-16s prior 10 the atrival off the British fighters. However, ones they became used t0 an enclosed cockpit, they enjoyed the warmth it afforded them in the chilly Arcrie climate of the Far North Thhe Britis radios in each and every Hurricane were also appreciated, asonlya third ofall Soviec fighters were fcced with such equipment, Early in the war even this ratio wasseldom mer.and many Russian radios were reesiver-only, which meant that a wingman might hear commands from his flight commander but could not return any warnings aralerts Not all the xechnical maladies afflicting the Hurricane were the aircrali’s fault, however. Some of the worst problems were due to the harshness of the climate inthe winter — pipes and hoses cracked, fuel and lubricants froze and batteries failed prematurely. ‘The aircraft's intakes also clogged up with ice and mud, and far this reason Hurricanes ficted with Vokes ar filters were frequently seen in the Far North. Pone-quality fuel, with alow octane rating, which seemed ro proliferate in the USSR in 1941-42, lurther teduced the Hurricane's performance. Irs Merlin engine also suffered premature wear because of the dity fel ‘other major problem afflicting the aircraft in Soviet service was the fighter’s tendency co nose over when operating from the rough ground synonymous with Ruséian airfields throughout Woeld War 2 The Hurricane’s tail ended to rise when taxfing across sofecarth, and the sircealt quickly developed a reputation for standing on its nose or naming over completely. A groundcrewman was instructed wo sit on the tailplane This Hurricane IB was photographed at the Air Force Scientific Testing Institute displaying a full Russian armament ‘oftwo SHVAK cannon, two UB ‘machine guns, six RS &2 rockets (on under ing rails and two bombs Ivia G F Petrov Ace, and future HSU winner, Cope Aleksandr Kovalenko af 2 GIAP-SF pprapares to clirn into his Hurricane ‘Mic iB at Vaenga in the spring of 1942. The aircraft has been fitted with ShVAK cannon and UB machine guns. A number of Kovalenko's 18 victories were ‘scored in the Hawker fighter In 1842 (via GF Petrov! in order avereome this problem, and he would jump off just before rake-off, Although this practice was strictly forbidden, order was totally ignored. On more thin one occasion a teagic accident ensued when the groundcrewmian failed to jump aff in time andl the Hurricane took ofl wich bin still hanging on for dear life any units this Another major shortcoming of the Hurricane was its armament, for although 12 machine guns sounded impressive, their number dit not compensate for the fact that the 7.7 mm bullets chat they fired had trouble peneteating German armour. As with their own ShKAS machine qs, the Russians grinly joked thar these light weapons were good only to spoil the Germans’ paint. Boris Safonov noted this problem. and suggested thar the Hurricanes should be zearmed with Rossian 200 mam | ShVAKor Some aircraft were indeed re-equipped with la although vatious combinations were se ShVAK and two UB guns per airctaft in place of the dozen 0.303-in Brownings. The Hurricanes were also frequently equipped with four or 7 mm UB guns, weapons, ancl he most comman sax two six rocket rails for RS-82 projectiles, these being used for both air-to-airas well as A number af wnits also supplemented the Hurricsne’sarmour with seat atmour stripped from ole Polikarpovs, although nor all pilots preferred the added weight in tte already poor-performing Brirish fighter So, in general, the Hurricanc was nor popular with Sovict pilots, many ‘of whom considered it less elesirable than the already obsolete [-16. On the other hand, some thought thas the fighter was marginally superior to the LaGG-3. Ultimately, when all was ssid and done, the Hurricane was all the o-ground attacks, forthern Feet Air Force lal dung che hacd winter of 1941-42, Hurricane Aces Sergei Kurzenkov, who was saved by Boris Safonov from a military tribunal for downing a Pe-2 for his ‘first kill’, was, like his CO, another pilot with yeats of pre-war fying experience. However, he had seen ni ViSSnY Hod SINVOIMUNA CHAPTER ONE actual combat prior to being senc to 78 IAP-SH in Occober 1941 Chastened by his ‘own goal’, Kurnenkov’s first proper encounter with the Lufiwalle proved to be an even worse experience for him. On 4 January 1942 hist Lurricane was b a BF 108. Althe feagments and his ly shot up when bounced by Kurzenkov was wounded in the thigh by shell erafi sot alight, he endured his predicament long osed Messerschmice befor enough to shoor down a second yellow- erash-landing behind Soviet lines Following several weeks in hospital, Kurzenkov retumned co che fighting, and on 24 March he intercepted a formation of Ju 88s.ind shot one down, On 15 April he claimed a Ju 87 destroyed for his thied kill, {allowed two days later by a BE 109. On 10 May Kurzenkav’s Hurricane was bad during » fiercely fought engagement with y shot up an: BE1095 and BET 10s. Five of the nine Hurricanes sent out on che mission failed wo ccuuin, and Kurecakoy only barely managed 1 escape the encounter with his life after force-landing his stricke territory. Al ighter in enemy from head wound, he manayed to make it © fallow spell im hospital, Kursenkeow returned! ro his unitin Jal sulle ick to Sovicr-held ccxticory day, Following yee another Promoted 1 captain in late 1942, Kurenkov. was subsequently appointed deputy regiment commander of 78 LAP-SE (On 28 February 1943, during rhe course of noctumal reconnaissance inission, Kurzenkow shot ua Ju 88 on in aieleld, bus his Husvicane was hirby Bakin the pr gbackoSor to bale out some distance from his sirfield. Unfornimately, Kurzerkov’s parachute did not completely deploy, and he was hadlly injured when he hitthe ground, Although he teturned to service months later, the: at able to fly again. Kurzenkoy had completed 225 missions and -was forced was downed 12aircralt. as well as dau our othersand destroy ye ground, |e was awarded the ISU on 24 July 1943 Fellow 78 TAP-SF ace Vasilii Adankin hael received his wings in earl H41 and then been sent to 72 SAP-SF to-fly 1-153 biplanes. On the rening of 29 June he intercepted an attack by Ju 88sand destroyed one th two RS-82 rockers — Adonki victoty with the obsolete Polikarpov fighter on A of the bomber chimed another In late March 19.42 he-was promoted ro captain and transferred to the iblished T-16-cquipped 27 TAP-SF. Tater than year Adonkin id to ?BIAP-SF, which was oF course still fly was pos as made corn- and in July: 194 mander of one of the regiment's squadrons, By then Adonkin. had completed 565 sorties and parti pated in 42 individeal victoriss and 6 shared i combats, scoring 16 Awarded the 1944, he was promated to major soon afterwards and. given. com mand of P-39-cquipped 255 LAP. SE. Adonkin’s spell as regiment ISU on 22: Januaty Also a future HSU winner, Capt Vasili Adonkin of 7HIAP-SF poses with his Hurricane Mik I on 20 June 11943. As can be seen, a fair number of his 22 kills were elakmed with the Hurricane (via G F Petrovt hot dowrr asd co Kiceyhiawks of 1943 — Sala wirsued co fly P-A0s neil wae's the time fighting in the Ea th ceased in Novernber 1944 he November 1944, ane) hae shor dawn nine aircraft. He also rook pare tal steamer. Sakharoy was awards therankcol captain, and was asquadron commander. Sakharov More HURRICANES ARRIVE Hasker fighters began to flow fisional VYS units vo re-equip, including 1 5bis/1-16-equip TAP on the Karelian units were also created, IAP, which formed in Des 1941, and AD-PVO (Fighter Aviation Division-Home Air Del ding all tablished near Ve dest iment fon ed to Ay both d TAP-SR Vikeor Krupskii os Germany invaded, Krapskti hi finse BF 109 in Jul AI. When 760 IAP was estab pelts Besar eee nae of pst pilots transferred in to serve sputy squadron: commander being promoted to senior licu- ° mid-1942 Krupskii had » 240 combar missions and, personal and eight shared vie+ eluded in this were 88s that he had shor down 8 LAP-SF had convei st 1941 0 the new Hurricane d onto Hun J through Murmansk, These allowed 760 7, 768 and 769 IAPs of ncludin Regiment) had Hurricane and Tomahawk, » provided grounderew for these new'nics. and produced few pilots af note, One individual who A junior licucenant Aying This photograph of Capt Pyotr Salbney of 78 IAP-SF was taken in the summer of 1942, and it shows him wearing two Orders of the Red Banner badges on hs tunic. (0n 23 October 1942 he was awarded the HSU. The leeding Soviot Hurricane ace with 16 victories, Sgibnev had increased ‘hs tally ta 19 by the time he wom kelled in setian flying = P-39.95 CO of 2 GIAP-SF on 3 May 1543 via GF Petrovt (Mectnies prepare « Hurricane ‘Mi HB of 78 LAP-SF at Vaenga in the spring of 1912 (via G F Petrov) J SaNvorNHA " HAPTER DNE 4 during the coune of five days in carly June while flying a Hurricane Krupskii was-awarded the HSU on 22 February 1943, and by war's ond he had 1 promoted to lieu tenant colonel, Flyi he had scored ter individual and nine shared victories. Almost all of these kills had been achieved flying Hurricanes or Kittyhawhs 130 sorties alongside Krupskit_in 160 IAP was fellow ace, ane pre-war pilor, Aleksandr Nikalaenkov. Also in action from Juin 1941, he too was sent to the newly-cseablished unit in Devember as a depury squadron commander. By May 1942 Nikolaenkov was a senior lieutenant, and by April of the following year he had flown 229 sorties 8 individual and 23 shared kills in 28 aerial combats (all in On 2 July that same year Nikolaenkar’s flight became involved nient with German fighters within the Arctic Circle. His rricanes) squadronmate Jnr Lt Zubach, who had shot dows.a BF 109 a few minutes arlicr, went to the aid of several Hurricanes that we ng attacked by a large number of Messer, burduring the attack hivengine illed and he had to foree-land. While Zubach pu his fighter down, Nikolacn! his wingman, Lt Sakovieh, tried to protect him from the enemy fighters However, Sakovich's Hurricane was also hit in the engine and b down. Now all alone, Nikolaenkow attacked the BF 109s head-on and shor onc down, buthe was seriously wounded in the process. The ace was able to recur to base, but he died of his wounds five days later on 7 July 1943. He-was posthumously awarded the HSU on 24 August 1943. Ace, and pre-war pilot, Nikolai Repaikow had first seen action against fhe Winter War of F9 seniorlicutcnant, and heen madea squadron commander, by the time and the Finns durin, +40, aed Wad risers to the rank 152 IAP was assigned (o 103 SAD (Composite Aviation Division) on dhe Karelian Front in late October 1941. Repnikew's unit te-equipped with Hurricane Mk lA 22588 of 760 IAP crash-landed in Finland on 16 February 1942 after beiog attacked by enemy ffahters. uickiy recovered, the former RAF aircraft wae subsequently repaired ancl flown ia fronting service by the Finnish Aie Force. Delivered to the RAF in early 196%, £72585 had flown with Nos 56 and 2316 Sqns prior to being sent to the USSR (via GF Petrov Huricane Mk NG BM8S9 of 609 IAP was forced down near the Finnish alefied at Tiksjari, in East Karelia, fon 6 pil 1942, its pilot, Jnr Lt van Babanin, being captured. BMIS9 hed been sent to the USSR on 10 Decernber 1341, having seen no prior RAF service. The slogan above ite fuselage star proclaimed For the Fatherland, whilst on the starboard ide an identically placed inseription ‘ead For Stalin via G F Petrov) actly camouflaged with a handful ‘of branches eut down from nearby trees, a heavily exhaust stained Hurricane Mk IB awaits its next ‘sorts at an undielotad aifild in Karelia during the summer of 1942, (via GF Petrov Hurricanes soon after its arrival in northern Russia, and he enjoyed some success with the aircraft up umtit his death on 4 December 1941 (On that date Repnikoy shot down a Finnish Moranc-Saulnier MS.406 caver Medvezhegorsk and then rammed the French-builr 65kill ace Set Toivo Tomminen of LeLy 28 ~ the later also died in the collision. Repnikov, who had flown $1 missions and shot down five et flown by aircraft prior to his death, was posthumously awarded the HSU on 22 February 1943. ‘The RAF's ability co supply Hurricanes s0 the USSR had received a significant boost soon after the first examples had atrived in Vaenga when, on 17 September 1941, a joiit British and Soviet force jointly occupied Iran. This provided another route for sending supplies wo the USSR through the port shipmencs of Hurricanes commenced. However, most examples were still f Abadan, and soon alter its seizure, che first sent as deck cargo via PQ convoys to Murmansk. until these ended itt smid- 1942. And with more and mare Hurricanes being despatched eo the USSR, the machines heysn Amongst the next group of regiments to receive the Hurricane was 1 GIAP, which had begun the war as [-16-equipped 29 LAP ia che Far East. Rushed to the W ¢ following the German attack, the regiment had first seen action in Seprember, Distinguishing itself durin, ip units on othce fronts 00. stern Enon weeks of fighting asit flew countless ground! attack missions in defence 0 ime the firsrin the VVS eo be yranted the Guards ttle, Redesignated 1 GIAP, in December 1941, it was withdrawn ro the Urals Forse-equipment with Humicanss. Posted to the Kalinin Front the following month, | GLAP had been reduced to just 1 aircraft by March. In return, its pilots lead succeeded in Ef'na.on the outskirts of Moscow, the unit be aiming only fourr aerial victories. Restored co full strength, che unit was agtin decimated in just a-marcer of weeks, and in May it was Is withdrawn and re-equipped with 1 GIAP failed co produce any aces ducing its cine with the Hurricane, aw combat with the British fighter. One although several future aces fir 2 such indivi i Klimenko, whe joined 1 GIAP in December 141 after having been injured flying with another unit —he had crash-landed following combat with BF 10%. Enjoying no- success swith the Hurricane, Klimenko had eo wait until August 1942 before he eould claim bis first victory. He -ultimar shared vic cored 13 individual and 6 rics in the space of just 12 months. Squadron commander Capt Aleksei Molodchinin was yet another pilot whe enjoyed ino luck whilst Ay inisially served in the Army in 1934-35, he had rejoined to compl flying training in 1938. Posted to 1 GLAP in March £942. Molodchinin 1 his mark as a Fighter pilor once the regiment had teceived the Yak-1, By March 1943 he had scored ten victories, and he duly re the war Molodchinin had completed almost 300 sorties and seared a total ‘of 15 individual and 12 shared victories Aunit stalwart frowns th Hurricanes with 1 GIAP. Having cd the HSU for his exploits five months lacer. By theend of rty start of the war, Vasilii Moskovenko had feted his ying training in rad in 1938 and then leer: posted t0 29 IAP. He had been fn action with the regiment ftom che very start of the war, and its March 1942 his Hur BE-110 over the Kalinin Front, Survivin achieved the rank of senior lieutenant sorties and xcored. 14 individual and ine was shor down by a this incident, Moskovenko had May 1945, completed 140 ared victories in 26 aerial combats — none of these claims were in Hurricanes, howe 5 +. Surviving the wat, Moskovenko received the H The primarily duc co its pilots, and particularly its leadership, who lacked h German BF 109sand BF110s 1.485 LAP, comm ¢ Northern Front effectiveness of 1 GIAP with che Hurricane seems to have heen confidence in the aircraft's ability to ms in Front. By cones ded encountered over the K- by Georgii Zimin, held irs own in cambar ony ‘Zimin had joined the military in 1931 soa after gaining his wings he was sont to the -f but no air combat, in the fighting arotind Lake Khasan in 1938. Zi ing a course at the Air Force Academy whem Germany invaded, and he was sent wo 4 TAP, equipped with MiG-3s and Yak-ts to attend flying school, and ast; where he saw action, was underta ‘Two pilots from 1 GIAP prepare to fly a mission in their Hurricane Mik ibs in the spring af 1842. Both fighters appear to have retained ‘heir muct-matigned Browning (0303-0 machine guns (via G # Petrov) A Hurricane Mic IB has its engine ‘an up on a snowy airfield during ‘he winter of 1942. Notice the rocket ‘alle fitted beneath the fighter’s starboard wing (via G F Petrov, By miel-November the regiment had had to be withdrawn for re- equipment. by which point Zimin had scored seven kills. After three months of waiting for new aircraft he was promoted to major and made CO of 485 IAP, which was in the: process of forminy with the Hurricane. The task facing Zimin was daunting, for most of his pilors were Fresh from flying school, with only a few hours of cockpit time. Having trained his pilors ax best he could in the time available Zimin led them to Vypalaovo ait field on 2 April, where the-uni was commited so the Bartle of the Demyansk Posket. Over she meat lew weeks the regiment condacted all manner of missions ranging from air cover and interception to ground attack in jsice of scarce Sturmovik Hurricanes were also used ro hunt down the Luftwaffe's ranspart aircraft which were uryi o supply the cut-off Demyainsk pocket Zienin's leadership helped the regiment overcome its lick of experience and obsolete equipment, and a number of pilots enjoyed success. Alier the fist week of combat, only single Hurricane had been lost, but ance the Germans launched their affensive, casualties mouneed. Yer inspite oF setious lowses, 485 IAP still managed to claim 56 kills in May 1942 alene. In one epic battle fought that month three Hurricanes, flown by Maj Kondratcv and Las Krikunoy and Volkov, were attacked by ren Bé 109s, Engaging the enemy fora full 40 minutes. often at eights as low 25.30 metaes, the trio of pilots eventually succeeded in shooting down six ofthe’ Messer before they broke off theactionand resumed safely home. Such achievements fir eelipsed the effores of all other Hurricane equipped IAPS in this sector of the frandine, and Zimin was tasked with advising other unies on why his eegiment was so suceeséfu (Ohne of 485 TAP’s squadron cemmmandéers was Capt VG Lazarey, who, between March and May 1942, claimed at least fie victories prior to being killed in action. Fellow ace Lt Yakov Bakharev also enjyed success during this period, heing credited with seven aircrafr individually and five shared destroyed heween April and June 1942. Zimin claimed thar Bakharev had che pocential co become a leading VVS sce, but 942. Su Le Loksionow was yet another 485 LAP Hurricane pilot to ‘make ace’ in the first halEof 1942, having destroyed eight aircraft by June 1942 He too appears to have been killed eluring the summer fighting. One pilot who did survive the carnage of mid-1942 was [van Piano. A flight cader when war broke our, he was sent to 485 LAP in May 1942 unfortunately he wo fell in combar during the difficule summer asa sergeant pilot. During one of his first familiarisation flights in the Hurricane, Piskunov was bounced and shot down by BF 109s while artempring to land, Fortunarcly, ho managed. to crashand without this early setback, Piskunow ton to become a talented pilot with 12 wictories to his credit by war's end, sulleringany injuries. Undeterred h vISSny Uod SINWaINUNH "7 PTER Routinely maved 10 austere airstips the Demyansk pocket as required, 485 IAP was never far from fhe action throughour the spring and sun ‘on 19 June Zimin led seven Hurricanes in a1 Jw 87s, escorted hy lout BF 109s. A few mitiutes later 11 more“M a the-various regionssurroundinig | met of 1942. For example interception of a doze intervened, ans es. By the me the fighting had ended, 495 IAP’s pilots had claimed four Ju 87sand. six BF109s shot down, and thrce more damaged, for the loss of just onc Hurricane. Zimin himself claimed two Ju 87sand a BF ID9, sbsequent aerial battle raged for 45 minu iF 1943, boy which 485 LAP remained at Demyansk until the spi poine ir had fully re-equipped with Yak fighters. The latuee did not lat foron 18 March the regiment was redesignated 72 GIAP and withdrawn from the frondline in ord to convert ante the P.39Q. Shortly- afterwards, Maj Zimin was promoted to command an sir division. By May 1945 Zimin had been promoted to colonel and received the H bi U. Finishing the war with 18 individual ane 20 shared vietoties ro it, Zienits had claimed five of these kills with the F ide from producing a handful of Hussicane aces, 485 TAP also P nurtured a number af pilats who would go onto make ace’ on mi advanced fighters the war progressed. Elsewhete, other Future high-sco also saw action in the Hurricane in 1941-42, including Sergei Dolgushin. Having spene the first eight months of the war flying I-16s, MiG-3s and LaGG-3s with 122 anid 180 IAPs, he was igted with a Hurricane in March 1942 when | h-kill ace, Dolgushin with he was the later regiment ee-

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