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

WALTER SCHUCK Pavel Orlov o f 2 GIAP/VVS SF. maneuver, he had learned to use both his left hand and the whole right forearm to pull the stick. But more often would he compensate his lacking physical strength by using the large trim wheel on the right hand side of the cockpit, thus shifting the elevator so his aircraft was flung into a sharp turn. The other two Airacobras and Kittyhawks inter­ vened in the combat, which lost in altitude. At an altitude of 1,500 metres, Schuck hit Leytenant Polyakov’s Kitty- hawk with a well-aimed burst. His aircraft badly crippled through Schuck’s 20mm shells, Polyakov dived down for a belly-landing. About 200 metres above the ground, the Kittyhawk turned over in the air and descended ver­ tically, and exploded as it hit the rocks below. Polyakov had no chance to survive. Meanwhile, Unteroffizier Goscht and Oberleutnant Widowitz reported one Pe-2 shot down each. As the Pe-2s became further dispersed following their dive bombing, the remaining Kittyhawks and Airacobras dis­ engaged from the fighter combat. Schuck saw a lonely Pe-2 turn towards the east at an altitude of only 50 metres, and brought Schoppler along to hunt it. Schuck attacked from the astern, opened fire and saw hits on the Pe-2. In that moment Schoppler’s warning was heard in his headphones: “Achtung! Jager von hinten! Fighter from astern!” Kapitan Orlov blasted away two or three bursts of fire, but Schuck made a rash evasive maneuver, and Orlov missed his target. Schuck ordered Schoppler to attack the Pe-2, which was performed from the front. Orlov saw this and turned against Schoppler, who broke off to avoid the tracer bullets from the Soviet ace’s guns. But the fate of the Pe-2 was already settled. The engines were on fire, and the rudders were shot to smithereens. The pilot managed to bring it down to a forced land­ ing on the surface of a frozen lake. This completely destroyed the aircraft, but the whole crew was unhurt. In the limited visibility in the darknes and haze, both sides made exaggerated claims in this combat. In addi­ tion to the P-40 shot down by Schuck, the four Germans reported one Pe-2 shot down each. In fact, no more than one Pe-2 was lost. Meanwhile, Orlov and Starshina P. V. Bolshakov were credited with the destruction of one Me 109 each, while we know that all Me 109s returned safely to base. Afterward, the bomber fliers in 29 BAP sent a letter to 2 GIAP/VVS SF, expressing their gratitude for the excellently performed fighter escort, which saved the Pe-2s from sustaining heavier losses to the aggressive German fighter pilots. Schuck would cross the path of the same fighter pilots again one fortnight later. On 24 January, Schuck participated in the escort mission for a formation of Ju 88s against Murmansk. Shortly before they reached the target area, a group of six Soviet fighters appeared, attempting to intercept the bombers. These were obso­ T