Hi Johannes
Here is a copy of my PM to you
I and colleagues are working on a book Air War over the Arctic: Defence of Murmansk and the Allied Convoys 1941-42. We're hoping that it may appear next year (I do have a contract). Hence the extracts from our draft below.
As you are aware, information re 1. and 14.JG77 is scarce, and anything that you may be able offer/contribute could prove invaluable and will be accordingly acknowledged.
I would be very interested to acquire a copy of Villing's letter re his and others operations. Would you be prepared to share?
Please reply to
briancullauthor@gmail.com
Cheers
Brian
2 July 1941
The Soviet response to these attacks was impressive but relatively ineffectual. Both Liinakharmi and Petsamo were targeted, the first raid comprising five MBR-2s that took-off from Gryaznaya Bay at 17:30. Three more MBR-2s followed 15 minutes later. The flight was carried out at low-level to avoid detection before the lumbering seaplanes climbed to 14,000 feet to release their loads - a paltry six 50kg bombs each aircraft - over the port at Liinakharmi. But surprise was achieved and all aircraft returned safely with only minor flak damage. However, the second flight of three was intercepted by Bf109s and promptly shot down by Oblt Horst Carganico (two) and Uffz Martin Villing. In one seaplane Ml/Ljt Mikhail Chalov and his gunner were killed, while Ljt Sergey Abramov was able to bale out but was captured. All three members of St/Lt E.I. Tishkov's crew were killed in the second aircraft, while the third machine ditched and the crew rescued.
11 July 1941
The German offensive reached its height on 11 July. Fighters from both the Northern Fleet and 14th Army were again in constant action over the front lines. At 00:30 six SBs bombed troops, artillery and transports, while I-153s patrolled overhead. Three I-16s joined in and strafed the many targets, one aircraft sustaining minor damage from machine-gunfire. By late morning I-153s arrived to continue the aerial assault, followed by six SBs and then five GSTs (Catalinas) of 118-RAP/SF added to the weight of bombs being dropped. But by now three Bf109s of 1.Staffel had arrived in the area. Oblt Carganico claimed one of the seaplanes, as did Uffz Martin Villing. Only one seaplane was actually lost, a machine flown by St/Ljt Nikolay Talalkihin, who was killed together with his navigator; the other three members of the crew were captured. The seaplane crashed into nearby hills. During the mission Villing’s Messerschmitt was hit by AA fire. He carried out an emergency landing, following which he was forced to make the long trek back and eventually reached safety the next morning.