Did You Know That an Allied Ace Fought Against a P-51 Mustangs

During World War II, Ivan Kozhedub became one of the most feared Allied pilots. As the highest-scoring fighter ace on the Allied side, Kozhedub’s skill in the air was unmatched. He was credited with over 60 confirmed kills, making him one of the deadliest opponents the German Luftwaffe faced. However, one of the most unusual stories involving Kozhedub didn’t involve a battle against the Germans. In the final weeks of the war, he was allegedly forced into a dogfight with two American P-51 Mustangs, a situation that has sparked debate and mystery for decades.

Who Was Ivan Kozhedub?

Ivan Kozhedub was born in 1920 and joined the Soviet Air Force in 1940, just before World War II escalated. He trained intensively and proved to be an exceptional pilot. When Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, Kozhedub was sent to the front lines to fight. By 1943, Kozhedub had begun flying the new La-5 fighter, a powerful aircraft that he quickly mastered.

His first confirmed kill came in July 1943, when he shot down a German Ju-87 Stuka. From then on, Kozhedub became a nightmare for Luftwaffe pilots. His exceptional skills in the air earned him his first “Hero of the Soviet Union” award after his 20th kill in 1944. As the war continued, his reputation only grew stronger.

One of Kozhedub’s most notable achievements was becoming the first Soviet pilot to shoot down a German Me 262 jet, a revolutionary aircraft introduced late in the war. This victory came in February 1945, when he and his wingman were on a patrol mission and encountered the jet at low altitude. Despite the Me 262’s speed, Kozhedub managed to bring it down. These feats, however, would not be his most talked-about moments. That would come in the form of a dogfight with American aircraft.

The Encounter with the P-51 Mustangs

On April 17, 1945, just weeks before Germany’s surrender, Kozhedub was flying a solo patrol. By this point in the war, many experienced Soviet pilots preferred to fly alone, taking advantage of their expertise without the need for backup. During this mission, Kozhedub encountered a formation of American B-17 Flying Fortresses and their escorts, the P-51 Mustangs. The American formation was under heavy attack by German fighters, and an intense aerial battle was unfolding.

As Kozhedub watched from a distance, something unexpected happened. His aircraft, the La-7, had a similar silhouette to the German Focke-Wulf 190, one of the most common German fighter planes at the time. Additionally, Kozhedub’s La-7 was painted gray, making it even harder to distinguish from the German planes. According to Kozhedub, two of the P-51 Mustangs mistook his La-7 for a German Focke-Wulf 190 and opened fire on him.

Despite the bright red star insignia on the side of his aircraft, which should have identified him as an Allied pilot, the American fighters continued to attack. It was likely a case of mistaken identity, as the chaotic air battle made it difficult to tell friend from foe. Kozhedub tried to signal the American pilots, but they either did not notice or did not understand his attempts to communicate.

Forced to Fight Back

Kozhedub quickly realized that the American pilots were not going to stop firing. Faced with no other option, he decided to defend himself. He skillfully outmaneuvered the first Mustang, getting behind it and opening fire. His bullets tore through the aircraft, which broke apart and plunged to the ground.

Moments later, Kozhedub engaged the second Mustang. After a brief chase, he managed to hit it with his machine guns. The Mustang sustained heavy damage, and the pilot was forced to bail out, parachuting safely to the ground.

After the engagement, Kozhedub immediately returned to base. He knew that shooting down Allied planes, even in self-defense, was a serious matter. Upon landing, he reported the incident to his superiors, who were just as surprised as he was. There was little evidence from the American side to confirm Kozhedub’s story, leading to ongoing debates about whether the incident happened as he described it.

Aftermath and Debate

Despite the lack of confirmation from American sources, Kozhedub stood by his account. He even included the story in his autobiography, where he maintained that he had no choice but to defend himself against the P-51 Mustangs. While some Soviet records support Kozhedub’s claims, American military records from the time are unclear, and the event remains shrouded in mystery.

Some historians have speculated that the encounter may have been exaggerated or even fabricated for propaganda purposes, given the tense relations between the Soviet Union and the United States toward the end of the war. Others believe that the incident likely occurred, as there are reports from an American pilot who claimed to have been shot down by a “Focke-Wulf 190” with a red star on the side. Whether or not this testimony is reliable remains uncertain.

Although the two Mustang kills were never officially added to Kozhedub’s tally, one of his commanding officers supposedly told him that he could “save them for the next war,” a remark hinting at the Soviet belief that a conflict with the United States might be imminent.