Last dogfight of WW2

In the opening pages of “Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Aces of the Russian Front” author John Weal describes the downing of a Russian Pe2 “taking with it Major Grigori Davidenko and observer Major Grashchev – ‘Heroes of the Sviet Union’ both – together with their anonymous gunner” on Tuesday 08 May 1945.

“The two fighters, Fw 190A-8s of II./JG 54, resumed their westward course for Kiel and British captivity. In shooting down the luckless Petlyakov, they had not only both claimed the last of the nearly 9500 victories accredited to their parent Geschwader, as well as undoubtedly one of the very last Luftwaffe kills of all of World War 2, they had also written finis to the saga of the Focke-Wulf fighters on the Eastern Front, a saga that had begun just 32 months earlier, almost to the day.”

It’s strange that although the names of the Russians were given, the names of the two Luftwaffe pilots were not.

Hi Xavier

I seem to remember when talking with Heinz Radlauer of JG51 at Shoreham Museum many years ago he discussed being in combat with Spit XIV’s of 41 Squadron. Think it was on 1 May 1945. Might have been one of Geoff Nutkins prints we were discussing. Will have to have a Google for this now to check

Cheers
Chris

The Seafire combat was followed on the same day by other combats between the Japanese and the USN. The Seafire combat is the last known British dogfight – some of the comments above are not “dogfights” as such.

Thought it would be interesting to revice that old thread, specially re. the part concerning the last dogfight of WWII in the ETO. The “legend” says the last aerial combat of WWII in Europe took place on april 11th, 1945, with Duane Francies and his observer Martin shooting down a Fieseler Storch, using their Colt .45 from their Piper L-4H.
The story is seducing, but browsing through the 354th Fighter Group story, I read that P-51s from its squadrons had some aerial fights on april 16, shooting down 13 Fw 190, on april 17th, Capt Jack A. Warner shooting down a Me 262, on april 19, 20, 22 and 26 – this last day, Edward Bickford shooting two Fw 190D and Kenneth Wise one. Any imput guys ?