Little Moment in History on the Eastern Front

[Soviet Ace]

So I was reading through some stories of Russian Pilots, on a good site for Russian Pilot stories (Link if interested) and I came across one pilot that I especially admire. Didn't realize the day till later today, but here's a little excerpt from Boris Safonov's time in the Red Air Force at the beginning of Operation Barbarossa that took place today, and the last few days to come. Enjoy!



At the beginning of the war, Boris Safonov was a leader of a squadron from the 72nd SAP. This unit battled from the first days of the war. Already, on June 22nd, 1941, Lt. W.D. Volovikov attacked German He 111's, with cover from a few Bf 109's, over the Ribachiy peninsula. But no one was able, in that battle, to obtain a victory. At sunrise, on the 24th of June, German bombers, without any loses to themselves, struck Soviet positions on the Ribachiy peninsula. On the same day, in the early evening, Safonov flew his I-16 to catch a German recon Ju 88. At last, after a long pursuit, he achieved the first kill for Soviet North Naval Aviation (it was Ju 88, W. Nr. 8173, from 6./KG30). On the 27th of June, Safonov scored a second victory - a Hs 126.