828 ShAP losses October 1944
 

A question for our Russian friends. I am interested in the losses of 828 ShAP during the Soviet October 44 offensive in Finland.

Thanks in advance

Re: 828 ShAP losses October 1944
 

Do you mean the Petsamo (Pechenga)-Kirkenes offensive in October 1944? There was no "FINNISH" operations of the Red Army (or VVS) in October 1944 as Finland and USSR had signed an armistice already 4/5 September 1944!
Carl

Re: 828 ShAP losses October 1944
 

Yes, the Petsamo offensive. It was Finnish territory at the time. I use this rather vague term as I don't know if Soviet planes also supported Finnish troops advancing north in Tornio-Kemi-Rovaniemi area (or rather attacked German troops in the area, probably without coordination with the Finnish).

Re: 828 ShAP losses October 1944
 

During October 1944 828 ShAP (260 ShAD) seem to have been deployed against German troop movements in the northern part of the Arctic Sea Front (Petsamo - Kirkenes) only. I have recorded six losses during that month:

08.10.44 at lake Koshkajärvi, Finland (Petsamo)
10.10.44 (2x) at lake Koshkajärvi , Finland (Petsamo)
25.10.44 at Neiden, Norway
26.10.44 at Neiden or Pasvik, Norway
27.10.44 at Neiden, Norway

Rune

Re: 828 ShAP losses October 1944
 

Hi Rune, thanks for the list. Do you have details about the crews ? Or a book where your list is coming from ?

Thanks in advance

Re: 828 ShAP losses October 1944
 

Hi Laurent,

The crews were at follows:

08.10.44:
Novikov, P.P. JLt (OK)
Shishin, S.D. JSgt (WIA)

10.10.44:
Prokhorov, K.P. JLt (KIA)
Semenov, S.M. SSgt (KIA)

Akimov, V.I. JLt (OK)
Nekushenko, I.N. SSgt (WIA)

25.10.44:
Makarov, M.A. Lt (OK)
Kobykov, N.S. Sen (OK)

26.10.44:
Musatov, N.V. JLt (OK)
Jusov, N.G. Sgt (OK)

27.10.44:
Kasheev, P.E. JLt (KIA)
Faganov, I.F. SSgt (KIA)

Source: Archive of 828 ShAP in TsAMO, Podolzk (ORB and lists of movement of aircraft).

Rune

Re: 828 ShAP losses October 1944
 

Thanks a lot again

Re: 828 ShAP losses October 1944
 

Rune one more question about these losses. For the crew you list either KIA, WIA or OK. Does the latter means that the man returned to his unit ? Probably but as Il-2 were active over enemy area I find amazing that none of the survivor was captured...

Re: 828 ShAP losses October 1944
 

Hi Laurent,

You are right that OK means unharmed and returned to own unit.

In these spesific cases the Il-2s were attacking retreating German ground forces and the survivors either force landed on, or bailed out over, own territory.

Rune

Re: 828 ShAP losses October 1944
 

Thanks again