P-40 found between Kerch and Taman

[yogy]

... it was reportedly lost around end of 1943 in the Kerch-Eltigen operation which actually included some formidable aerial battles.

 

Does anyone know more about this aircraft, i.e. unit it belonged to, pilot, date of loss etc. ?

 

I found the following claims:

07.12.43	Fw.	Hans	Ellendt	4.	JG 52	Curtiss P-40	W. Kap Tusla: 200m	08:58
13.12.43	Ltn.	Heinrich	Sturm	4.	JG 52	Curtiss P-40	E. Eltigen: 200m	09:46

 

 

 

 

[yogy]

From 12oclockhigh:

 

Quote

"the plane was piloted by Soviet pilot Nikolai Semenovich Krayniy. During the Kerch-Eltigen landing operation on November 15, 1943, the fighter was shot down by the Germans. The pilot managed to splash down and get out of the sinking plane on an inflatable rubber boat. Saved Nicholai Krayniy his fellow soldier, countryman and best friend Alexander Dmitrievich Karpov. Returning from combat mission, Alexander Karpov learned that the plane of Nicholai Krayniy was an hit. Karpov volunteered to find a colleague. Flying over the Kerch Strait, he found him, drifting on a rubber boat, and sent him a rescue boat.
After five months, in April 1944, history almost repeated itself. "During the liberation of the Crimea, Nikolai Was shot down for the second time. He splashed again, this time 15 kilometers from Cape Tarkhankut. Find Nicholai Krayniy again instruct his friend Alexander Karpov". Karpov again found his friend. While simultaneously he to shoot down a German seaplane, . Soviet rescue boat, sent to the aid of Nicholai Krayniy, eventually saved the pilot and simultaneously captured four Germans."
https://crimea.ria.ru/society/20180323/1114089511.html

These are the pilots of the 3 air squadron 30 reconnaissance regiment VVS ChF

 

There is no claim in the lists for a P-40 on that day. Anyway five Yak were reported by by II./JG52 that day, so either misidentification or Flak.

 

Interesting that the VVS used the P-40 for Reconnaissance operations - probably because it was such a bad fighter .

[Poochnboo]

3 hours ago, yogy said:

Interesting that the VVS used the P-40 for Reconnaissance operations - probably because it was such a bad fighter

Actually, the USAAF used them for Tactical Recon, also, in the Pacific. They were operated in this capacity alongside P-39's by the 71st Tactical Recon squadron. Early in 1945, after the unit moved to the Phillipines they recieved Mustangs. Major William Shomo won the Medal of Honor flying an F6D with this group.