Ju-87 Stuka

Recently completed the final volume in the Osprey Combat Aircraft series trilogy on the Ju-87 Stuka, and as with the first two books it was a very good read.

Entitled, Junkers Ju-87 Stukageschwader of the Russian Front, it gave a very good account of the war that the Stuka fought against the Soviets. If you have any interest in the Eastern Front or the Stuka itself I highly recommend it.

For some reason the Stuka is one of my favorite airplanes. I’m no Nazi supporter, but I just have any appreciation of the airplane itself for what it was.

In any case, in my reading, there were a few brief mentions of Stukas getting an air-to-air kill here and there. I was rather surprised as it mentioned both P-39’s and La-5’s as the alleged victims. I can’t imagine a Stuka getting an air-to-air kill and indeed these may have been only claims, but it does bring up an interesting point of discussion.

Has anyone ever heard of Stukas getting air-to-air victories? What about their rear gunners?