Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry deZeng
Sarabus - closest to 18 Apr 43:
24 Apr 43: bombed – 1 x Ju 88 A-4 from 4.(F)/Aufkl.Gr. 122 and 4 x Ju 52s from Transportstaffel I. Fliegerkorps destroyed (4) or damaged (1) on the ground.
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Thank you, Larry! It is strange, what these losses were listed by GQM, but losses during the night 18/19.April are absent in the list.
In KTB HGr A mentioned strong air raids against Saki, Sarabus, Bagerovo and Samorsk (Zamorsk) airfields, but nothing about losses.
Morning report 24.Apr of 153.FAD says about air raid on Saki:
22:25-01:12 20-25 HE Bombs, damages (not described), craters on the runway.
I haven't yet any details from German side about results of air raids during the night 23/24.April against Sarabus, Bagerovo and Samorsk. According to GQM, all aircraft losses were in Sarabus.
It is a small details, of course. But it seems ground losses in GQM list are uncomplete really.
Now I try to collect the data for the book about "Kuban air battles" (Soviet term for air war during Apr.-Jun.43 over basin of Kuban' river, Taman peninsula and environs including Crimea). During 2011-2012 I collected a big volume of data from Russian archives and good portion from German side.
Losses data is the important part for analysis, of course. And now confidence is absent that all German losses for the south flank of Ostfront in Apr.-Jun.43 are known. From time to time fragmentary mentions about a/c losses in German Army documents, for example, don't correspond to GQM list.
Personal losses from WASt (NVM), as far as I know, don't available now. It is right?
By the way, Russian analogue of WASt available on-line for free.
Returning to Kuban Air Battles. I don't know now, what REALLY means this event, this terrible meat-chopper. Was it a great step to change the side in air superiority or not? It is interesting, and it is require further research.
Best regards,
Andrey