Yak-i's in the battle for Smolensk
 

Hi Guys,

I was reading a West Front Report on aircraft strength which lists 16 YaK-1s in front aviation on 22 July 1941. Can anyone tell which unit was flying Yaks on this date?

Re: Yak-i's in the battle for Smolensk
 

123 iap had 20 Yak-1 on 22 june 1941 in Kobrin a/f, near Brest. They were delivered from factories in boxes with wings demounted, and only a day before invasion just several a/c's were mounted and ready for action. It is beleived, all of them were lost on ground early in 22 june.

Re: Yak-i's in the battle for Smolensk
 

Yes, it must have been heart breaking to just get these new planes have them destroyed on the airfield two days later without ever having had a chance to use them... but what about a month later at Smolensk on or around 22 июля 1941 г. ? Who was flying Yaks then?