It was not before autumn 1942 that the first real successes broke up the front of the pilot's considerable distrust in the weapon, the tactics and the intended mission itself. That, however, was limited to a single Staffel, 13.(Pz)/JG 51, operating in the central zone between Vyazma and Rzhev.
The rest of the Hs 129 units did not really convert to tank-busting until spring 1943. The Battle of Kursk was then the real kick-off for that role for the Hs 129.
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