Airfields in Bessarabia - concrete runways?
 

I work on a new map for the game IL-2, I need to know wether any of the airfields in that area had concrete runways or parking lots in 1941 and or 1944. The places where that could possibly be the case are
- Odessa
- Beltsy
- Chisianau
- Tiraspol
- Iasy
- Roman
- Focsani

Who knows wether any of theses airfields had concrete or asphalt ?

PS: Here is one pic of the area. It shows all Airfields on the lower 80% map:
http://www.yogysoft.de/il2/propaganda/Bessa_AFs.jpg

Re: Airfields in Bessarabia - concrete runways?
 

According with the memories of the famous soviet ace Alexander Pokryshkin, who spent june-july 1941 here in the 55th IAP, the runways of Iasy and Roman were done concrete for sure. His first flight was fulfiled for the recon of Iasy (no enemy plane on the ground) and Roman (filled by enemy planes) on the morning of june 22.
The 55th IAP in their Grigiriopol airbase, also had brand new concrete runways, which was finished dead before the beggining of war.
Of cource, the concrete runways also were situated in Odessa, Beltsy and Tiraspol.
By the way, it should be very intresting, if you could to spread the map not so far to the south - to include the esthuary of Danube. In the first monthes of war here were a plenty of very intresting events:
- fierce air batles over Ismail-Sulina region during first 30 days of war
- the seizing the Sulina sity by russian marines on the second night of war (this beachhead was defenced against all odds during almost one month)
- battles between russian and romanian river monitors
- final breakthrou of russian Danube flotilla from Ismail to Odessa after the crossing of german-romanian forces of Dniest river, ets

Re: Airfields in Bessarabia - concrete runways?
 

Can you elaborate, please? What air battles are you referring to? Which VVS units took part in these actions?

Thanks,

Re: Airfields in Bessarabia - concrete runways?
 

I'll can check soon - seems, the IAP regiments of Black See fleet on I-153 fighters.

Re: Airfields in Bessarabia - concrete runways?
 

Please do so.

One of these little known naval fighter units was 96 OIAE (see thread:
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=7353)

Re: Airfields in Bessarabia - concrete runways?
 

What I have found:
The fighter regimets (or their components) were situated in following airbases near Danube:
- Izmail itself, which was bombed by romanian on the morning of june 22. Here was based 96 oiae (independent fighter avia squadron), which was in charge for he defence of the ships of Danube flotilla and was itself as air component of flotilla. According to official info, 96 oiae had 40 fighters I-15bis and I-153. On the noon of june, 22, during the fight w romanian bombers over Izmail, the fighters have claim for shot dawn 5 romanian planes (SM-79 or PZL 37). According with the memories of one of mariners from flotilla, two "german" planes were shot dawn straight on the Izmail.
From the russian side in this fight took participation 3 I-153 and 14 I-15bis.
- Spartakovka (already fixed on the map, but under the name "Cytadel-Alba" - this the just traslation of the name of the ancient (turkish) fortress and sity. Here was situated 299th SHap of 21 SAD, with I-15bis assault planes. This regiment also took participation in attacks on the ground instalation along Sulina straight of Danube.
- Bolgrad, also has bombed on first morning of war
- Tatar-Kerchak
Also, in fights from the russian side have took participation:
119 MRAP (recon regiment on MBR-2M-34 flying boat) from the Hadjibay station near Odessa;
40 BAP (bomber regiment on SB bombers) from Krimea

Re: Airfields in Bessarabia - concrete runways?
 

On the early morning of june 22, in the first airbatlle, the I-153 of leut. Maximov from 96 oiae had shot dawn one "Ju 87 one-engine bomber" (seems, PZL Karas) and one He 112 fighter (N "18"), which crash landed near Tulcha.
The photo of latter w red army guardian stands behind has widely using in russian media...
By the way, about the claims of romanian Hurricanes pilots for 10 shot dawned "russian Grumants" - in fact no one Polikarpow fighter was lost during this melee.

Re: Airfields in Bessarabia - concrete runways?
 

During the june 25, 6 SM.55S attacked the beachhead, which russian seized near Kilia. Those venerabke flyingboats used 50 of 17-kg bombs each...

Re: Airfields in Bessarabia - concrete runways?
 

Can I ask you about the source(s) you're quoting the events from?
I am asking this because from what I know on June 22, there were five victory claims filed by 96 OIAE pilots, including St. lt.M. Maksimov, against 'SET-15' biplanes. No 'Stukas' or 'Karas' could be the victims.

By the way, the ARR He 112B, No. 18, flown by Adj. stag. rez. av. Aldea Cerchez of Gr. 5 vân., was shot down on July 2, not June 22.

Again, what is your source claiming that not a single Soviet fighter was lost that day in that area? Just for confirmation...

Re: Airfields in Bessarabia - concrete runways?
 

Please, find some sourses (on russian lang.):

About "Ju 87/Karas" - (this is memories of Jukov (another one), also about situation with loses of 96 oiae:
http://militera.lib.ru/memo/russian/..._jk/index.html

General description of aviation events in Dabube estuary:
http://www.airwar.ru/history/av2ww/s...nay/dunay.html