Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

I have seen references and a few photos concerning the Hampden used by the Russians with the Third Squadron of The 24th Mine and Torpedo Aviation Regiment, Northern Fleet (after the RAF / RAAF had left Northern Russia), but did they make much use of them? Did any other Russian units use them and as a type did they last only a few weeks in Russian service?

Any info greatly appreciated

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Hello Larry,

In Red Stars 4 lend -lease aircraft in Russia by Guest and Petrov it's said that Hampden were only used by 24 MTAP elevated to Guard status on 31 May 1943 becoming 9 GMTAP.

Alain

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Hampden were operated by Soviet from Vayenga from oct 1942 to July 1943

Alain

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Hello Larry,

The brief version is as follows. They were used by the whole regiment, which received 20 in October 1942. The last were taken out of service in July 1943, after most were lost in combat or accidents. So they did see quite a bit of action. No other units flew the type, because there were no flyable aircraft left after July.

I've sent you a PM.

Regards,

Paul

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Hello Larry

Maybe still not impossible to get is the Flypast October 2012. In it there is Vladimir KOTELNIKOV’s and Yuriy RYBIN’s article 'Balalaika' on the use of Hampdens by the 24 MTAP.

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Hello Juha,

Thank you for the source. Do you know whether FlyPast issues indexes of published articles? Their website search function is reasonably good, but an index would be even better. I am not a frequent reader of FlyPast, so I apologise if the answer to my question should be obvious.

Regards,

Paul

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

No I don't. I'm also an infrequent reader of FlyPast. Sorry that I cannot help on this.

Juha

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Larry

Two squadrons went out - Operation Orator-Ham.

455 and 144Sqn. Off the top of my head it was 38 off Hampdens that flew from Scotland/over Shetland/sweden/norway and to land in northern Russia. They were sent as a deterant against the Tirpitz after PQ16. 1942

A number were lost in Sweden/Finl;and and norway or crashing in Russia. After remaining there for a cmonth or so (along with Recon Spitfires).

P1344 is being restored at Cosford. (Ex-144Sqn). One or two tried to land at Kitkenes (Luftwaffe base).

regards

Mark

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Yes, there was also a Catalina sqn for searches, altogether 32 Hampdens, 13 Catalinas and 4 Spitfires to protect PQ-18 and QP-14. Hampdens flew only one mission searching Tirpitz for an attack but found nothing. Then it was decided that flight back to GB against prevailing winds would be too foolhardy, so it was decided to turn over the surviving Hampdens to the Russians and the crews returned on warship(s). One of the Hampdens flown by a Sqn/Ldr on way to the SU landed in Norway and Germans got important papers from it on the PQ 18, IIRC also its timetable, but that was also picked off by the Finnish radio-intelligence who had intercepted and decoded a low-level VVS message which also gave away the timetable of the PQ 18.

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Below please find the updated Hampden section from my book Red Stars Vol.4 "Lend-lease Aircraft in the USSR" (sold-out long time ago):

Handley Page Hampden
In order to avoid repetition of the big losses of convoy PQ 17 a task force from RAF Coastal Guard (consisting of 144 and 455 (RAAF) Sqns Handley Page TB.I torpedo bombers, three PR Spitfires and six Catalinas of 210 Sqn) was dispatched to Northern Russia in September 1942 to protect arrival of convoy PQ 18 and departure of return convoy QP14 (Operation Orator). 32 (of intended 34) Hampdens took off from Sumburgh, Shetland Islands in the evening of 4 September 1942, but only 23 Hampdens arrived safely in the Murmansk area after the long ferry flight over German-occupied Norway, neutral Sweden and enemy Finland. The RAF crews performed only one 7.5 h anti-shipping sortie from Vayenga on September 14 without results. A German bomber attack to Vayenga 27 September seriously damaged two Hampden (one of which was later repaired to flying condition) and another four got damages.

Because of the big losses on the outward flight it was decided not to fly the Hampdens back to England but to hand them over to the Soviet Northern Fleet (VVS SF). The first Soviet solo flight was made by Capt A.Z.Stoyanov (to become Hampden escadrille C.O.) 30 September 1942, and the C.O. VVS SF Maj.Gen.A.A.Kuznetsov piloted also a Hampden a few days later.

After modification to accommodate Soviet-made torpedoes and defensive armament (see below) the 20 remaining Hampdens (one of which was equipped with double-command) were handed over to the VVS SF on 16 October 1942 and formed 2nd and 3rd escadrilles of 24 MTAP. One week later (23 October) the 144 and 455 Sqn personnel departed to UK. The double-command Hampden (the identity of which is not yet known) was modified by a Soviet team led by the Chief Engineer of VVS SF Lt.Col. (Eng.) V.M.Sobchenko, using various Hampden spare parts and also some Kittyhawk details (eg. the seat of the pilot-instructor, which was installed behind the seat of the pilot-student).

During conversion training two Hampdens were lost in accidents (the C.O. of 24 MTAP Lt.Col. Vedmedenko was killed 21 December 1942 when P5315 crashed on a training flight) and two others were damaged.

The Soviet naval pilots flew their first Hampden-sortie 16 December 1942 attacking Kirkenes and Titovka. German shipping at the Norwegian coast, Kirkenes harbour etc. were subsequently repeatedly attacked by the Soviet Hampdens. On 18 December Capt. S.I.Trunov torpedoed a German transport ship at Tanafjord.

Because of the Hampden’s poor flight characteristics operational losses were heavy, but the Soviet aviators fought heroically with their obsolete aircraft. According to Soviet historiography two Hampden crews performed legendary "burning tarans", directing their blazing aircraft against German ships: Capt. A.A.Bashtyrkov (14 January 1943 at Vardö) and Capt. V.N.Kiselev (25 April 1943 at Gamvik, sinking German transport Leesee). Both pilots and navigators of these two Hampdens were posthumously made HSUs.

However, Kiselev´s alleged sinking of Leesee (2.624 BRT) is apparently only a “Soviet hero legend”. Leesee was in fact hit by a torpedo (fired either by Kiselev or by another Hampden), and Kiselev´s Hampden was shot down by anti-aircraft fire from the German minesweeper M-381.

From April 1943 the decreasing number of serviceable Hampdens was gradually replenished with modified A-20G Boston torpedo-bombers. The last operational Hampden sortie was made on 4 July 1943 when a group of seven Soviet aircraft including two Hampdens attacked German ships at Cape Kirbergnes. One German transport was reported sunk and two others damaged, but on the return leg German fighters shot down both Hampdens, piloted by Maj. F.G.Shipilov and Jn.Lt. A.A.Martynov. Both crews were fortunately rescued. Meanwhile, on 31 May 1943 24 MTAP had been elevated to Guards status becoming 9 GMTAP.

Because of the fuselage shape the Russian nickname for the Hampden was Balalaika. At first British Mk.XII torpedoes were carried, but the torpedo racks were soon modified for Soviet 45-36 AN torpedoes. (A-20G Bostons were correspondingly modified to carry Mk.XII torpedoes.) The defensive armament of the Hampdens was also increased by installing Soviet UTK-1 turrets with 12.7 mm UBT machine guns replacing the paired Vickers 7.69 mm guns.

18 April 1946 Soviet Lt.Gen. G.M.Savonenkov (Deputy Chairman of the Allied Control Commission in Finland) asked the Finnish Foreign Minister Carl Enckell for information about the crew of Hampden AT138 which was shot down over Finland 4 September 1942. According to the ACC inquiry at least the pilot Sgt. J.G.R.Bray was taken prisoner, while the navigator Lt. J.D.Smith (No. 129539), the R/T operator Sn.Sgt. J.D.Kirkby (No. 1181778), the MG-gunners Sgt. R.S.Otter and Corp. L.H.Mallinson (No. 1476073) apparently were killed. On 30 April Mr. Enckell answered that "no British aircraft was shot down by Finnish forces during WW II, but according to German reports an aircraft was shot down by German FLAK near Alakurtti 4 September 1942 at 04.23 am, and was destroyed by fire. One Australian aviator escaped by parachute and was taken prisoner by the Germans. No further information about the fate of the imprisoned aviator nor about the other crew members is available."