Рыбин, Ю. В. Советские асы на Харрикейнах в годы Второй Мировой Войны / Юрий Рыбин . – [Б. м. ] : Osprey Publishing, 2012. – 97 с. : ил., портр. – Англ. яз.

C HA PTE R FIV E 84 onto its nose. I was thrown about 100 m from the cockpit, but this saved my life. This is how my final battle, and my final flight in the Hurricane, ended.’ Further interesting details about this action are contained in this Northern Fleet Air Force report, which add to Strelnikov’s recollection of the engagement that almost cost him his life; ‘The leading group of Hurricanes, led by Lt Strelnikov and his wingman, continued to pursue the Il-2s while repelling enemy attacks. After a short time Lt Strelnikov’s wingman, Jr Lt Mashonkin, became cut off by enemy fighters, and during his manoeuvres he strayed into the firing zone of the anti-aircraft defence vessels and was shot down by heavy machine guns. ‘The Il-2s were targeted by enemy fighters as they completed their attacks. Lt Strelnikov, who remained on his own, positioned himself behind the trailing pair of Il-2s and repelled enemy attacks. At a point 15-20 km [9-12 miles] from the target, Lt Strelnikov noticed a single Fw 190 that had approached the Il-2’s port wingman and opened fire from a distance of 100-150 m. Strelnikov, who at that point was some 50-80 m above the Il-2s, in turn opened fire on the Fw 190. After this the enemy turned away, climbing to the left. However, with no reserves of speed, the German pilot could not get away, and he was again attacked by Strelnikov. The enemy aircraft started to emit smoke, then fell on to one wing and crashed into the sea. All the Il-2 crews witnessed the fall of the Fw 190. ‘A short while later, Lt Strelnikov was attacked by two Me 109s, which succeeded in damaging his Hurricane. Manoeuvring away from the attack and escaping behind the Il-2s, gunners in the latter aircraft did not recognise the Hurricane and fired on it, setting it ablaze. Lt Strelnikov headed for Pummanki airfield in his burning aircraft, but the engine soon gave out and the pilot was forced to ditch his fighter 100 m from the shore. He was picked up by soldiers from the coastal defence batteries.’ In all, the Soviets lost four Hurricanes during this raid on the enemy convoy, and three pilots were killed —Jr Lts Grigoriy Dzheriev (103 combat sorties), Aleksey Mashonkin (48) and Ilya Kostenok (97). The attack aircraft also incurred heavy losses, with five Il-2s being shot down and three aircrew killed. It is possible that the victim of Strelnikov’s close range attack was a Bf 109G-2 of 7./JG 5, its pilot, Oberfeldwebel Erich Beulich, being killed. This victory represented Strelnikov’s fifth success in the Hurricane. He was awarded the Order of the Red Banner on 2 October. His third (an Fw 190) and fourth (a Bf 109) victories had been claimed on 3 and 28 August. Strelnikov reported the Focke- A Hurricane IIC of the Northern Fleet Air Force buzzes a Soviet naval vessel patrolling in Kola Bay © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com