Rybin, Y. Luftwaffe ace Walter Schuck researched / Christer Bergstrom, Yuriy Rybin. - Sweden : [s. l.], 2019. - 190 p. : ill.

WALTER SCHUCK A Bell P-39Q Airacobra with a ventral tank. Very soon, Schuck noticed that Gayko lagged behind. He understood the reason: Schuck had shifted the flaps to the very special position where the Me 109 reaches its maximum climb angle without stalling, but obviously Gayko lacked the experience which this required. Thus, Schuck was able to climb at a fairly steep angle at a speed of 350 - 400 kilometres per hour. Schuck climbed higher and higher, steadily aiming at the condensation trail above. He watched the altime­ ter: Four thousand metres. Still the Soviet pilot - 118 RAP’s Starshiy Leytenant I. Ya. Popovich, piloting 118 RAP’s Spitfire PR.IV, “BR 926” - remained unaware of the impending threat. Feeling increasingly excited, Schuck put on his oxy­ gen mask. Higher and higher he climbed. At the same time, Popovich slowly put his Spit­ fire into a full turn over Kirkenes. That was his photo run. Then he turned towards Salmijarvi. Schuck made a 180-degree turn and positioned his Messerschmitt straight below the Spitfire. His earphones crackled and Gayko’s voice was heard: “It actually is the Spitfire! And soon we’ll be there!” In spite of the cold temperature at the high altitude, Schuck was sweating with excitement. “The Ivan hasn’t noticed anything yet,” he called out to Gayko. “Man, he’s gotta be slow,” Gayko replied. Schuck still was afraid that he would lose his bait. “If he just turns his head, we’ll lose our steak,” he called to Gayko. “Well, he won’t do that,” came the answer back. And Gayko would prove to be right. Without having noticed the two Messerschmitts, Popovich entered a new full circle above Petsamo. That allowed Schuck to reach his altitude. Schuck crept in behind his victim, and while doing so, his excitement caused him to chatter in the radio: “There he is! There he is! . . . Oh, if he only knew what awaits him!” “Why don’t you shoot at last?” Gayko exclaimed, impatiently. As Schuck slid into position straight behind the Spit­ fire, he knew that he would get his opponent, and that made him calm again. He radioed Gayko: “Take it easy. I want to have a good look at him first. I’ve never seen a Spitfire that close before!” And Schuck really got a good look. He gently throt­ tled back and ended up only 20 - 30 metres behind the Spitfire. Now there was no turning back. Finally he squeezed the firing buttons. It was like a gunnery prac­ tise. After what seemd to be an eternity, an explosion occurred in the Spitfire’s wing root. The Spitfire banked and went into a vertical spin. Farther down, at about 6,000 metres altitude, it briefly recovered, but then went into the spin again. Another two thousand metres farther down a small white spot emerged from the descending T