178 GIAP former 240IAP

[Flavio]

Dear All,

please where was 178 GIAP (former 240 IAP) based during February 1945? I suspect it was based in Hungary, near Budapest, but I don't know the air base.
Thanks in advance
Flavio

[yogybär]

Hungary at least sounds very reasonable, because the Regiment got a special decoration "Богдана Хмельницкого II" in October for its "heroism" during the battle for Debrecen.

It was subordinated to 5VA, 3GIAK supporting the 2nd Ukrainian Front.

Sorry, I couldn't answer your question, but at least found out some other interesting stuff - see link .

[HGabor]

Hi Flavio,

I do not know February, but 178 GvIAP ace Kirill A. Yevstigneev claimed a Ju 52 victory on January 16, 1945 just north of Budapest. He took off this time from Alag airfield, near Dunakeszi, also north of Pest. (-Pest is the eastern part of Budapest, on the Eastern shore of the Danube river) Alag is a small village just north of Budapest on the eastern shore of the river. He flew his famous white '14' ...KONEBA... La-5FN plane with red nose this time. Cheers,

Gabor

[Flavio]

Originally Posted by HGabor

Hi Flavio,

I do not know February, but 178 GvIAP ace Kirill A. Yevstigneev claimed a Ju 52 victory on January 16, 1945 just north of Budapest. He took off this time from Alag airfield, near Dunakeszi, also north of Pest. (-Pest is the eastern part of Budapest, on the Eastern shore of the Danube river) Alag is a small village just north of Budapest on the eastern shore of the river. He flew his famous white '14' ...KONEBA... La-5FN plane with red nose this time. Cheers,

Gabor

Dear Gabor and Jörg,

thanks for your reply.

Gabor, I am collecting informations about Yevstigneyev personal planes; very interesting sources about them are; "Avions" magazine July 2003 and the recent published books about his memoirs and Kozhedub one. In these sources there are several photos about La-5FN"white 14" with red nose, but pay attentions this plane is not the famous and original "white 14" (a F model) flown by Kozhedub also. Probably the original "14" had at that time the red nose also, but I never saw photos to confirm it.

regards
Flavio

[Csaba B. Stenge]

Maybe they stationed at Tököl at this time, but I am not sure about that. The Soviet units used few airstrips, which were not used earlier by the Hungarians (I guess, they had one near Bugyi as well, it is also close to Budapest, SE from the city).
If I know correctly, the 178. giap's materials remained (at least, partially), so maybe some of our VVS experts knows more.