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Re: Airfields 43rd Fighter and 23rd Mixed aviation divisions operate from last half July 1941
Jan-Jun 41: 23 SAD in Moscow MD.
6 Jul 41: HQ 23 SAD at Rzhev; its 170 IAP intercepted German formations in the Orsha area.
17 Jul 41: 23 SAD in support of Soviet 19th Army in the Smolensk area. OB included: 169 IAP, 170 IAP, 209 BAP.
Aug 41: HQ 23 SAD now at Olsufyevo/60 km NW of Bryansk in support of 28th Army. OB included: 61 ShAP, 169 IAP, 213 BAP.
Jan 41: 43 IAD/Western Special MD with HQ at Orsha. OB included: 129 IAP and 162 IAP.
22 Jun 41: 43 IAD/Western Special MD with HQ probably still at Orsha - deployed on airfields between Minsk and Smolensk. (Bergstrom-v.1:268). The division was virtually untouched in the initial German air attacks on 22 and 23 Jun. (G/K-v.1:96).
24 Jun 41: engaged in large air battle over Minsk, filing many claims. (Bergstrom:55).
25 Jun 41: 43 IAD/West Front attacked German columns near Grodno. (Wagner:39). OB in late Jun/early Jul included: 30 IAP, 160 IAP, 161 IAP and 163 IAP; these were joined by 32 IAP later in Jul.
23-25 Jul 41: 43 IAD supported counterattacks in the Roslavl’-Yartsevo sector. (Wagner:55).
12 Aug 41: 43 IAD, previously assigned to support Soviet 4th Army, now supporting 19th Army around Smolensk.
[Unless otherwise indicated, the above is all from German daily FULA Berichten and therefore considered reasonably accurate.]
L.
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