Air Battle Over Nis (WWII) 1944

The one time that that action genuinely heated up between America and Russia was on November 7, 1944. Russian mechanized infantry were moving towards Belgrade to support the offensive into Serbia when they were unexpectedly strafed by American P-38 Lightning fighter-bombers that had somehow veered 400 km off course and mistaken them for Germans. Suffering heavy damage, the Russians called for air support, and the result was a dogfight between nine Yak-3 fighters and an unknown number of Lightnings. The actual results of the battle remain classified, but American and Soviet sources both predictably claimed high casualty totals for each other. The American government later apologized for this regrettable incident  surely one of the best examples of bad navigation in WWII. Its strange to think that despite their standing as deadly enemies for almost half a century, the one time Soviet and American units openly fought each other was a mistake. 
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The air battle over Ni occurred on 7 November 1944 over Ni, in Serbia, between the Air Forces of the United States and the Soviet Union in World War II due to both countries mistaking the other for Germans. This was only one of two direct military confrontations between the U.S. and the USSR in the history of these two countries. The other being the attack on the Sui-ho Dam taking place during the 1950-1953 Korean war.

After the successful joint offensive in October 1944 and the expulsion of German forces to the north, the military units of the Red Army had been ordered to follow in their steps. On 7 November, a long column of vehicles belonging to 6th Guards Rifle Corps of the Red Army was moving from Ni towards Belgrade, with orders to reinforce the southern wing of the Hungarian front. Suddenly, at about 10 AM, from southeast over the Jastrebac mountain, three groups of American P-38 Lightning fighter planes arrived and the first group immediately started to strafe the leading vehicles, destroying several, with 31 killed and 37 wounded. The commander of the corps, Lieutenant General G. P. Kotov, was also killed in this attack.

While the second group of US P-38 planes were starting their attack, the commander of the 17th Air Army, General Sudec, who was at the Ni airbase at the time, issued an order for immediate takeoff to the pilots on duty flying Yakovlev Yak-3 fighters from 659th Regiment of 288th Air Division based at Ni, believing they were being attacked by German Focke-Wulf Fw 189 fighters. The American planes shifted their fire to the Soviet fighters which were taking off in spite of clearly visible large red star markings on their wings. One of the Yak-3's was destroyed right away.

The P-38s then climbed to about 500m and formed a defensive circle above the city of Ni itself waiting to see how will this uncertain situation would be resolved. According to aeronautical engineer Dragoslav Dimic who as a child was among the gathered inhabitants of Ni, the remaining Soviet fighters flew over the old city fortress at an altitude of only 20m and attacked the Lightnings from below in a steep climb. One Lightning burst into flames and fell to the ground near the airstrip of the Ni airbase. The Yaks flew through the circling Lightnings and attacked them again, this time from above. One of the Yaks was hit by American fire and fell to the ground.

Soon the battle was joined by a second group of Yaks led by a famous Soviet fighter ace Captain Koldunov, who took off from another airbase near Ni. The 'tangle of death' that formed in the air moved westward across the city with the sound of machine gun and cannon fire. 9 Soviet Yak-3 and an unidentified number of US P-38 fighters participated in the battle which lasted for about another 15 minutes. According to American author Glenn Bows, 4 Yaks and 2 Lightnings were lost, while Russian sources state that 3 Yaks and 4 P-38's have been destroyed. Joko Drecun, a partisan officer who was based at Ni airport at the time wrote in his diary that Americans lost 7 and Soviet 3 planes.

The United States apologized to the Soviet Union, stating that the attack was the result of a grave error by American pilots sent to attack German forces on the road from Skopje to Pristina. On 14 December, American Ambassador to the Soviet Union W. Averell Harriman apologized on behalf of Franklin D. Roosevelt and George C. Marshall and offered to send liaison officers to the 3rd Ukrainian Front to prevent further incidents; Stalin rejected it, because a line of demarcation had been drawn indicating the boundaries of Allied air actions.

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On November 7, 1944, twelve American P-38s Lightnings from the 82nd Fighter Group, 15th Air force (North Africa and Italy) were most likely off course when they ran across what they thought was a German convoy. However, it was not German but a Russian army convoy which they attacked and promptly started an air battle over Nis, Yugoslavia, now Serbia.

Located in southern Serbia, near Belgrade, Nis is one of the oldest cities in the Balkans, first established in 279 BC. From ancient times it has been considered a gateway between the East and West. Today, Nis and the surrounding area have a population of around 300,000 people.

On the morning of November 7, 1944 daylight came quietly to Nis in the cool autumn air. A long column of vehicles from the 6th Rifle Corps of the Red Army was moving from Nis towards Belgrade. They were complying with orders to reinforce the southern wing of the Hungarian front.

The Russians, with help from the Bulgaria Peoples Army and Yugoslav partisans, had just won a battle known as the Belgrade Strategic Offensive which had liberated Belgrade from the German Army.

Around 12:50 pm, three groups of four American P- 38 Lighting fighters flying fast and low, popped over the Jastrebac Mountains. Spotting a troop convoy, the American P-38 Lightning pilots zeroed in on it.

Coming from of the southeast the first group of four Lightnings started strafing the westbound truck column as soon as they saw it. After all, one Army green colored convoy looks like any other convoy, no matter what country they are from. The U.S. planes apparently did not realize their error before they fired on the convoy.

They promptly killed thirty-one (31), wounded thirty-seven (37), and destroyed several of the lead vehicles. Tragically, Russian Commander, Lt. General G.P. Kotov was one of those killed.

As soon as the second group of P-38s started firing, the commander of the 17th Air Army, General Sauced, who was on NIS air field at the time, issued an order for the pilots from the Russian 659th Regiment 288th Air Division, to immediately take off. They were flying Yak-3 fighters. At least six Yaks were in this flight.

In spite of the Red Star that was clearly marked on the aircraft, the Americans quickly shifted their fire from the convoy to the Soviet fighters. One of the Yak-3s was destroyed on the first pass. The P-38s then climbed to about 1500 feet and formed a defensive circle above the city of Nis, waiting to see what was going to happen next.

When the Russian Yaks fired back, the American of course returned fire. It was also apparent that either they did not recognize the Russian Yaks or they kept fighting to defend themselves.

Accounts vary greatly as to how the friendly firefight happened. Some believe that the Americans strayed significantly off course, and misidentified the Soviet fleet as hostile German forces.

Others claim that the American were due to meet up with the Soviets to provide air support. Travelling faster than anticipated, the Soviets were 100 kilometers ahead of schedule and it was a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Russians were only protecting their own forces. After all, the Americans fired the first shots.

Regardless of who was at fault, both countries are keeping their records classified creating speculation that there is something to hide. The incident has never been de-classified by either the U.S. or Russia.

According to aeronautical engineer, Dragoslav Dimic, who was a child at the time, he watch with his neighbor, as the action transpired.

He recalls, The remaining Soviet fighters flew over the old city fortress at an altitude of less than 100 feet attacked the Lightnings from below in a steep climb.

One Lightning burst into flames and fell to the ground near the airstrip of the Nis air field. The Yaks flew through the circling Lightnings and attacked them again, this time from above.

One of the Yaks was hit by American fire and fell to the ground near the runway at the Nis air field. The Yaks next flew through the circling P-38s attacking them a third time, this time from above. One Yak was hit by a P-38 and crashed.

This part of the fight lasted about thirty minutes. At 1:00pm two fighters, Yak-9s this time, took off from Nis Air Field. At 1:05pm six more Yak-9s followed with a final two taking off at 1:10pm. Altogether, over a dozen Yak fighters were in the air.

A second dog fight followed. Altogether ten Soviet Yak-3s and twelve American P-38s were joined by a second group of Yaks led by Soviet fighter ace Captain Koldunov who arrived from another airbase near Nis.

The running battle moved westward across the city following by the sound of machine gun and cannon fire. The dozen or so Soviet Yaks and the twelve P-38s fired at each other for another 15 minutes.

Captain Koldunov was credited with shooting down three of P-38 Lightings. Note: Captain Koldunov was Russias eighth ranking Fighter Pilot Ace, ending the war with forty-six (46) victories.

The number of casualties on both sides varies depending on who made the report. According to American author Glenn Bows, four Yaks and two Lightnings were lost. However, Russian records reflect that three Yaks and four P-38s were destroyed.

Partisan Officer Joko Drecun, who was based at Nis airport at the time, wrote in his diary that the Americans lost seven planes and the Russians three.

Until these files are declassified it will not be known exactly what happen or how many planes were lost. The Americans lost somewhere between three and seven P-38s and at least three pilots. Also, two more P-38s were damaged and left the area trailing smoke. It is not known if they made it back to their base or not.

The Russian lost at least three Yaks and their pilots. Assuming that it was actually a case of mistaken identity, once the Soviets planes were in action, the Americans should have instantly realized that the planes were Russian and stop firing immediately. After all the Red Star is very prominently displayed on the sides of the Yaks.

Instead the battle continued for another 15 minutes after the Soviet pilots were in the air.

At the time of the incident, Colonel Nikolai Shmelev, Soviet Deputy Commander of Squadron 707 Attack Aviation Regiment, 186th Assault Aviation Division wrote the following report:

Morning dawned serene November 7. Enveloped in a light haze the city of Nis was decorated with red flags and banners. Aviators of our regiment columns entered the spacious parade ground. Colonel Shevrigin gave the command. At ease.

Shortly someone yells, Run! Fascists dive on our airfield!

Everyone, as if on cue, turned their heads to the south. Because over the mountains flew a large group of aircraft. Some of them had fallen into a dive. I heard muffled cries. One after another, over the airfield they dived.

Run to the shelter! Ordered Shevrigin.

Tell headquarters! Ordered Lt. Lopatin.

We are all surprised and puzzled. After all, everyone knew that in our area of the war there were no Nazi aircraft. And now, a whole armada! Suponin, Orlov and I watched from a trench, under a tree. We saw how they dived, one after another, and continued diving as they approached our parked aircraft

They are not Germans, they are Americans! Our Allies! Shouted our pilots, when the aircraft were close enough, we clearly saw the insignia of the US Air Force. It was really American P-38 Lightnings.

At first we thought they were providing cover for our troops, although it was not needed.

Meanwhile, another group of planes form a circle over the city. The road is shrouded in smoke. Our soldiers are waving red flags, signaling the aviators that they are attacking their allies. The bombs and bullets continued to fall.

I rushed to the airfield. I was running as six American planes swept low over the ground and attack our Yak-9s, which were taking off. Before reaching the operations office I saw the Duty Officer, Captain Alexander Koldmov, take off with two other planes.

I ordered the entire regiment to take off.   I managed to repeat several times, Do not open fire! We tried to signal that we are allies. But the Allies shot down another of our aircraft. However, the pilot managed to bail out.

The first pair attacked the P-38s, but the battle increased. The Americans were dropping bombs. The first P-38 tried to defend himself, but was unable to fight the entire group of Yak fighters so the Americans went into a formation to better cover each other with their front guns, as they flew towards the city.

One of our Jacobs promptly dived from high over the attacking P-38s, which was hit and crashed and burned. The Yak was immediately attacked by another P-38 and he was also hit and went down.

This following information came from a Russian Combat Report from the HQ of the 866 IAP, dated 7/11/1944/1600.

On July 11, 1944, at 12:50 a group of twelve P-38s, attacked troops of the 3rd Corps of Ukrainian front, moving on the road from Nis to the west towards the Chamurlia region.

Four P-38s in formation made diving attack from about 160 feet leveling off at about 50 feet. The other two groups were circling overhead at 6000 feet.   After the first assault, Ack Ack fire, shot down one plane which crashed about a mile to the north of the airfield.

At 13:00, a pair of Yak-9s took off. At 13:05, six more Yak-9s took off as well as their Commander, Capt Bondar. At 13:10, two Yak-3s piloted by Capt Koldunov and his wingman, 2nd Lt. Krasyukov took off.

The first two Yaks attack four of the P-38s. One of the P-38s was hit and crashed and burned north of the air field. One of the Yaks also crashed.

As the battle continued one Yak-9 was hit and a second was brought down by friendly Ack Ack fire.

About this time one of the Yaks wiggled his wings and the Americans finally realized that the Yaks were Russian and not German. It was reported that five P-38s were hit and crashed and two Yaks were destroyed. One was by Ack Ack fire.

About this time a large flight of about forty-plus P-38s were observed approaching the area. And the battle of Fir was over just about as fast as it started.

So what happened? Why do we not know any details? Both countries still continue to keep the records classified, leading to a lot of speculation.   Is the action classified because the two countries are embarrassed or is something else part of this action? Is there something to hide! Maybe someday the Battle of Nis will be declassified and the real story revealed.

Authors Note: I found the Battle of Nis included on three different lists of Air Battles. The first was the Top Ten Largest Air Battles, next was the Top Ten Greatest Air Battles, and third was the Top Ten Epic Air Battles.

On each list the ranking was a little different but all placed the Battle of Fis in the middle of list. With the Fis Battle consisting of twelve P-38s and a similar amount of Yaks, no way was it large enough to be in line with the Top Ten Largest Air Battles, such as the Battle of Brittan.

I also find it a little unbelievable that a 45-minute, approximately twenty-five plane battle to be on the par with the Top Ten Greatest Air Battles of all times.

And thirdly, I find the only thing EPIC about this little scrimmage was the fact that twelve Americans pilots found themselves embarrassingly in a battle with our Russian allies.

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From: WWII Today

On the 7th November the Soviet Army was advancing rapidly near the city of Nis, then in Yugoslavia, now part of Serbia. What happened next, and why, is the subject of a number of different and varying accounts. No doubt both sides tried to keep the matter as quiet as possible at the time, rather than hand a propaganda victory to the Germans.

What is clear is that US Lightning fighter bombers attacked the Soviet ground troops and were themselves then attacked by the Soviet airforce. The number of casualties on both sides varies according to different accounts, but around 30 Soviet troops and airmen died, including General G.P.Kotov. The number of planes shot down in the dogfight above Nis also varies considerably between each account  but several US and Soviet planes were shot down.

It is, apparently, the only occasion in which US and Soviet planes have been in direct combat with each other. Despite all the subsequent provocations and incidents of the Cold War, they never actually fought each other.

Some accounts suggest that the US planes had been invited to provide air support for the Soviet troops but the Soviet advance was so fast that they were 100 kilometres away from where the Americans expected them to be. Other accounts suggest that the US planes navigation was out by an embarrassing 400 kilometres and they made their attack in entirely the wrong location.

Soviet commanders on the scene were not immediately able to understand the situation. This is the account of deputy commander of Squadron 707th Attack Aviation Regiment, 186th Assault Aviation Division, Hero of the Soviet Union, Colonel Nikolai Shmelev:

    Morning dawned serene November 7. Enveloped in a light haze city of Nis was decorated with red flags and banners. Aviators of our regiment columns entered the spacious parade ground. Taking the report, Colonel Shevrigin gave the command: At ease!.

    The deputy commander for political affairs Sivud went into the middle order and ordered the 1st and 3rd Squadron deploy to the middle of the flanks and formed a sort of letter C.

    Comrades Solemnly began Lt. Sivud. Today, the entire Soviet people celebrate the 27th Anniversary of the Great October Socialist 

    Run! interrupted someone . Fascists dive on our airfield!

    Everything, as if on cue, turned their heads to the south. Because over the mountains flew a large group of aircraft. Some of them had fallen into a dive. I heard muffled cries. One after another, over the airfield the others dived.

    Disperse! In the shelter! Ordered Shevrigin.

    Tell headquarters! Ordered Lt. Lopatkin.

    I do not understand Sivud said as we ran together to the slit trench near the fence. 40 planes! Where did they come from?

    And not only Basil  we were all surprised and puzzled. After all, everyone knew that in our area of ??the war there were no Nazi aircraft. And then  a whole armada! Suponin, Orlov and I watched from the slit trench, under a tree. They were near to the airport  about two kilometers away. We saw how they dived, one after another, and continued to dive, approaching our parked aircraft  And here they are already very close.

    So its not the Germans, the Americans! Allies! Shouted our pilots, when the aircraft became clearly visible, and we saw the insignia of the US Air Force. Yes, it really was the American Lightning.

    That morning, the deputy commander of the 866 th Fighter Regiment 288th Fighter Air Division, Major Dmitry Crude (later Hero of the Soviet Union) was standing on a nearby mountain. Visibility was perfect, and he admired the endless stream of infantry, marching in the song with a brass band. And suddenly we heard solemn sounds recalled the Major, the roar of planes. Where are they? What, enemy aircraft on this sector of the front? We can not be absolutely sure there are none. So its American planes!

    What do our allies want ? The first impression was that they were, on their own initiative, providing air cover for our troops, although this was not needed .

    Meanwhile, another group of planes formed a circle over the city, the other was the call for the bombing. The road shrouded in smoke. Our soldiers waving red flags, white patches, signalling the aviators that they were attacking their allies. But all the bombs fell and continued to fall.

    I rushed to the airfield. I was running as six American planes swept low over the ground and attacked our Yak-9s, which were taking off. Before reaching the operations office I saw duty aircraft squadron commander, Hero of the Soviet Union, Captain Alexander Koldunov (subsequently twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Air Chief Marshal, Chief of the Air Defense Forces  Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR), soar aloft with two others.

    I ordered the whole regiment to take off. I managed to repeat several times: do not open fire! Signal that we are allies. But the Allies shot down another one of our aircraft. The pilot managed to bail out 

    Look, our hawks have soared! Dmitry Suponin happily pushed me in the side (ground-attack pilot Nikolai Shmelev complements the story of the deputy regiment commander). In the air our group soared away. Landing gear up, our fighters dispersed at maximum speed from the earth and climbed straight up. They immediately went into action. The first pair off attacked the enemy aircraft. To help them, two more aircraft joined in, and soon the whole regiment took off. 

    The air battle flared up even more. The Americans were dropping bombs, first tried to defend himself. But, unable to withstand the onslaught of our fighters, they went into a formation to better cover each other with fire front guns, and went out towards the city.

    One of our Jacobs promptly dived from a height on an attacking plane and opened fire. 37-mm cannon shell exploded in the center section of the Lightning and, burning like a torch, fell to the ground. The Yak slipped forward, but immediately came under fire from another bomber. Machine-gun fire got into the cockpit of the fighter and the nose, he abruptly went down and crashed. Killed by some of our military friends. My eyes filled with tears 

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From: SURVINAT

SOVIET-AMERICAN WAR 1944 YEAR

Not enough people have heard, but in November 1944 Russian Alliance almost went to war against the United States. It was on the ground are exempt from the Nazis Yugoslavia, and in the event perceived the specific role of the famous pilot, Hero of the Russian Alliance, and then Marshal  Acornonline.com.

Damned imperialists

This is a very practically unexplored episode of the 2nd World war. In the West about him prefer not to remember. In the USSR this story can be read just one source  the memoirs of a military pilot N. A. Shmeleva low altitude, published in 1966. From that book, should that day on 7 November 1944, at the airport of the town of Ni (Serbia) Russian pilots from 707 th attack aviation regiment was going to mention recognizable Russian revolutionary prazdnichek, as suddenly their heads began to swoop down weird planes and drop bombs.

First, the intruders took the German frame  so since 1941 we have called the Focke-Wulf FW-189. It was amazing: in the 1-x, the frame was a high-altitude spy, not designed to attack airfields. At 2, immediately several 10 s () Focke-Wulf the Germans simply was nowhere to take.

In General, the authorities have decided to postpone for later. In the air raised the duty element of the adjacent 866-th fighter aviation regiment. In the first attack managed to get 2 of strangers. Evenly off the whole regiment, and in the air began real dog fight  maneuverable fight at low altitudes. Was shot down another frame, died and our Yak-3.

But soon the Russians pilots saw with amazement that the wings and fuselage of the enemy planest painted dark German crosses, and white star USAF Someone even remembered designation American frame is a heavy fighter P  38 lightning. On such machines, however, exclusively in the variant of the reconnaissance aircraft, flew and died all recognizable Saint-Exupery.

In this battle he participated and the best speakers regiment, Hero of the Russian Union captain Alexander Warlocks (46 aerial victories by the end of the war). The one in 1987 in the midst of perestroika will be removed from the post of commander of the air defense forces for the controversial landing Feet of rust on red square.

Specifically, he risked his life, flew to leading the Yankees to show a reddish star on his own plane. Like whatsoever, the Americans went home. But briefly. Almost half an hour later, another group of American aircraft attacked a convoy of Russian troops moving through Niches on the highway. They also managed to drive away, but the cases they do have time. As a result of the RAID died, the commander of the infantry corps General Stepanov. His last words were: Damn imperialists.

7 : 3 in our favor

The us military says the Creator of the memories, of course, apologized to our for this "incident". But whats the use of these false words? They will not return our dear comrades killed during the treacherous RAID.

In General, the tone of the book N. Shmelev left no hesitation that she seriously was corrected in the main political administration of the SA Navy. Could even be thoughts: not wrote this episode in the cold war? But suddenly the proof came from quite a different angle  from the former Yugoslavia.

As is clear, the Russian troops helped the National liberation army of Yugoslavia to get out of the country by German-fascist invaders. According to the agreement on October 16, 1944, signed Yugoslav Marshal Tito and Russian Marshal Tolbukhin, part of our 17th air army were given the right to use any local airfields. For this Russian air force had to teach Yugoslav pilots and mechanics of operation of the Yak-3 and Il-2. One such group was based at the airfield of the town of Ni.
Veterans Yugoslav units shared memoirs about the incident in the Belgrade newspaper Policy dated November 9, 1988  just in the 44th anniversary of those events.

According to them, 7 November 1944, over the column of the 6th guards rifle corps Reddish army North of the city of Ni suddenly appeared a group of American bombers B-25 Mitchell accompanied by fighter lightning. The entire aircraft was about 30 pieces. The Americans with pinpoint accuracy was autmobiles on the head of the column: died corps commander, 31st fighter and officer, another 37 people were wounded. From the airfield soared group of 9 Yak-3 aircraft, one of which was shot down here. In the air there was a bitter struggle.

Partisan political Commissar assigned to the NIS airfield, brought to the attention of the personnel that were shot down 7 American and 3 Russian aircraft. With all of this, the Americans have lost 14 pilots.
If you believe data unknown Yugoslav Commissioner, it appears that the Americans have lost 5 single Listingof and 2 bomber Mitchell with a crew of 5 people. Most likely, these were the aircraft of the 15th air force United States air force, who in 1944 was based in Italy.

According to the latest info in the battle with the American side was represented only fighter lightning and the number of knocked down in the midst of them was not more than 3-H.
By mutual consent of the parties to brief the Soviet-American war was forgotten. If its closer to the spring of 1945, the year when the crack between the anti-Hitler coalition was still bigger things could obrotitsya differently

But for the 1st of the heroes depicted events, Alexander Koldunov, this meeting with American pilots was not the last. In 1948, the second star of the Hero he received just downed the Yankees, when it began the cold war. But thats a whole other story

Editorial Courage. Ah looks so current information about those events: 7 November 1944 in the area of the town of NIS in Yugoslavia two groups (a total difficulties 27 aircraft) American aircraft lightning by mistake stormed a convoy of Russian troops were killed 12 Russian soldier and officers, including the commander of the 6th guards rifle corps guards major General G.P. Cats. To reflect the plaque was raised 9 fighters led by captain A. Koldunov.

Risking their lives, Warlocks approached South American planes, showing them a red star on the fuselage, but was fired, and two Russian aircraft shot down. Retaliatory fire were shot down 3 (Russian data) or 2 (on South American data) of the U.S. aircraft, including the 1st hit himself Warlocks. Finally managed to reach the termination of the battle  Warlocks actually put private plane nose leading the Yankee group. After the incident, there was a major diplomatic scandal. The Americans admitted mistake and apologized, but downed South American planes our pilots command on sacla.

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Maj. Koldunov's Yak-3 (1711) was probably white '17' during the November 7, 1944 incident over Yugoslavia with the P-38s of the 15. USAAF, 82nd FG.

Koldunov flew his first Yak-3 (No.1711, - white 17) since September 22, 1944.

He not only joined the 659 IAP on November 7, 1944 over Nis, Yugoslavia against the friendly-enemies: 82nd FG P-38s during their friendly-fire incident, but they also joined the 897 IAP on November 10, 1944 strafing the Pcs airfield in Hungary. In the morning of November 10, 1944, a single Boston bomber (most likely A-20C, S/N: 42-33151) of 17 VA, 244. BAD, 260. BAP, 1st BS, piloted by Capt. Ivan Stepanovich Chekurin flew a successful recce. mission over Pcs airfield in Southern-Hungary, photographing about 60, mainly twin-engined enemy planes. Soviet HQ. immediately ordered a long-range air-strike on Pcs airfield in the same afternoon. Soviet Yak-1b and Yak-9T fighters of the 897 IAP had 4 waves, while Koldunovs new Yak-3s formed the 5th group, protecting the others. So it looks like they, as an elite group were used for special missions to protect others.

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