The Nightwitch hunter Josef Kociok

[Dutch2]

Being very interested in the history off those brave Communists woman, I was very intrigued by this quote of former Night Witch members in this video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MbbVc4mQ7H4  Start at 4:10 and you will notice later one German did stop the Witches for the first time. After a search the pilot as been mention at 5:00 seems to be the “witch hunter” Josef Kociok, as can be read here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josef_Kociok

 

I must admit I never know that, because they should encounter more german fighters earlier, why was he so fierce that they disbanded further flying, only guess I have, this German pilot has the tallent to fly low at very low speed. 

 

 

Edited May 21, 2020 by Dutch2

[Cybermat47]

Here’s a campaign where you fly in the same unit as him: 

 

[Juri_JS]

26 minutes ago, Dutch2 said:

I must admit I never know that, because they should encounter more german fighters earlier, why was he so fierce that they disbanded further flying, only guess I have, this German pilot has the tallent to fly low at very low speed.

 

The chances to encounter German nightfighters was very low for U-2 crews in 1943, because there were only a small number on the eastern front at this time . It was also one of the few missions of 10.(NJ)/ZG1 against U-2s, usually the unit operated in the Kerch Strait area against two-engined bombers. The Russians did certainly not expect nightfighters operating in the area and the cancelation of further mission was probably also done to change tactics.

 

In this particular mission I guess that the Germans were expecting an attack in the area, maybe because the target had been attacked the previous nights. I don't think it was a coincidence that Kociok was at the right place at the right time.