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Sergeants Boris Lazarev and Rudolf Müller In the early morning of 21 February 1941, a 22-year-old Sergeant Boris A. Lazarev was flying a British manufactured fighter plane type Hawker Hurricane Mk IIb, fitted with 40mm cannons and bearing Soviet markings. Lazarev was assigned to the 760 th Combined Aircraft Regiment, 259 th Fighter Air Division, 7 th Air Army of the Karelian Front. At the time his regiment was stationed near Chupa (today known as the Republic of Karelia), approximately 400km northeast of Saint Petersburg, Russia. Sergeant Lazarev was intercepted by four Messerschmitt Bf-109G fighters of the German Jagdgeschwader 5, led by Oberfeldwebel (Staff Sergeant) Rudolf Müller. Müller, who was an ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, was credited with 94 aerial victories. During the ensuing air battle, Müller shot down Lazarev. In 1998, military historian Yuriy Rybin and his search group "Vysota" tracked down the crash site of the downed Hurricane. It crashed into the moors near Chupa, which are common to due to its close proximity to lush wetlands. Rybin did not only locate the wrecked Hurricane, but also found Lazarev's well-preserved mummified remains. Rybin believes that according to Lazarevʼs posture, the Sergeant was only split seconds away from parachuting to safety when his aircraft hit the ground. His seat belt had been unbuckled and his hands were still clung to the straps of his parachute. The parachute, which also functioned as his seat cushion, was found unopened and still strapped to his body. Both of Lazarevʼs feet were severed from the ankles and found inside the cockpit. Boris Lazarevʼs corpse remained well preserved for 57 years due to the unique conditions of the peat bog. Bogs in this area contain very little oxygen, highly acidic water and are exposed to cold temperatures. It is also believed that the gasoline and engine oil from the wreckage acted additionally as a preserving agent. A large number of personal effects were found in amazingly good condition; A flight bag with an extra uniform still neatly folded, the Red Army Soldier's booklet, a Young Communist League membership card, German war trophies (Nazi coins and a paratrooper fighting knife), his TT-30 Tokarev semi-automatic 7.62mm pistol that was still holstered, two personal letters, several pistol bullets and Soviet medals. His awards included the Order of the Red Star and two Orders of the Red Banner, which were awarded for heroism in combat. He was subsequently laid to rest with full military honors in Chupa Memorial Cemetery, Chupa. The remnants of his crashed aircraft were used to restore another salvaged Hurricane for exhibition at the Central War Historical Museum at Poklonnaya Hill, Moscow. Rudolf Müller was shot down two months later on April 19 th , 1943, possibly by Mladshiy Leitenant (Junior Lieutenant) Nikolai Bokii (also a fighter ace himself, with 14 victories). Müller crash landed his Messerschmitt and was taken prisoner by a Soviet ski patrol. He was imprisoned in a Soviet Gulag (forced labor camp) in Temnikov. It is said that he was seen in 1947 in a prison camp at Murmansk. However, another narrative suggests that he tried to escape only months after being captured. For his failed escape attempt, he was allegedly shot by firing squad on 21 October 1943, exactly 8 months after Sergeant Lazarev's death. If that account is factual, then Rudolf Müller, like Boris Lazarev, was just 22 years old when he was killed.
