[Carl-Fredrik Geust]

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."