[Tim O.]

Originally Posted by Mirek Wawrzynski

This is intersting post but based on myth, for example on the North Soviet airfield were attacked by Me 110s of 5./ZG 26 a few minutes before 3.15 (at 2.55) over Alitus (Olita), the same was over airfield on the south like Czerniowce attacked by Stab, I i II/KG 27 with III/JG 77 i I(J)/LG 2 early in the morning

There was of course attacks done by very small formation 1, 2 or 3 planes and it was done by III/KG 51 (Ju 88 A-5 with 2 containers of 360 SD-2). These planes were specialy adopted for very low attack of 25-50 m high with small fragmetation bombs - SD-2.

So, the first air attacks on many Soviet's airfields were done by stronger formation then mentioned small force (1-3 planes). To small impact of air power attack with classic bombs to be useful against Soviets air regiments.

mw

PS
Tim, which was the Staffel of I/KG 54?

At this time the two men mentioned (Weible and Schmittka) flew with 2. Staffel of KG 54. They then transferred into 5. Staffel/KG 54 in August 1941. They had only begun conversion to the Ju 88 in January 1941 after the Norwegian Campaign, where they flew in Ju 52s with KGzbV 106 dropping paratroopers over Narvik and delivering supplies. Prior to this they flew in Ju 52s against Poland with KGzbV 2 and took part in the bombing of Warsaw amongst other things. Pre-war Schmittka flew with Aufklärungsgruppe 122 so he was very experienced and met the criteria for those early missions against Russia. Schmittka paired up with Weible in April 1940 and they flew and transferred together until an horrific incident where two of their crew were killed and Weible was wounded in September 1942 when a Russian anti-aircraft shell exploded in the cockpit area. Schmittka helped get the crew back to German lines but broke down on landing and was taken off active duty. Weible went on to be awarded the RK but this was sadly posthumous as he went missing on a mission to London on 24th March 1944.