Unknown losses during air raids against Saki and Sarabus (Crimea) in Apr.43

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Hello friends,

according to KTB German Army Group 'A' (morning record on 19.Apr.43 about "last night" =18/19.Apr.?), during the Soviet night air raid against Saki airfield 16 a/c were destroyed and damaged.

In KTB Befehlshaber Krim (XXXXII.AK):
18.Apr.43: during night air raids on Saki and Sarabus 7 He111 destroyed and 9 He111 damaged

So, sufficient losses. But I can't find any in GQM loss list. Is it means, what ground losses in GQM list so incomplete?

Best regards,
Andrey

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Maybe info of possibly involved units will be helpful?

III./KG4,
Stab, II./KG55
4(F)./122

Also maybe some crews from III./KG55

Not He111, but 2-Mot.Bombers also:
Stab, I., III./KG51, III./KG3

Best regards,
Andrey

[RT]

Probably also a mix of all these ones+ some others , there was a big field-workshop there, maybe that is why the losses where not reported by GQM, but to say that the docs reporting the losses for , schools, nd non-combattant units ignored also this event

Rémi

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Thank you, Rémi!

I'll try to explain my question later.

Best regards,
Andrey

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Addition:

Report from Bef.Krim to AOK17 22:20 18.Apr.43:
From 20:40 air raid against airfield Saki and Sarabus. According to unconfirmed report, 1 enemy a/c shot down.
5 our a/c (He111) are burning.
(It is a preliminary report, final - 7 destroyed and 9 damaged)

From Soviet side:
It was the raid of 50.AD DD (50.division of long-range aviation) .
8 crews from 5.GAP DD 21:47-22:33 MSK (20:47-21:33 Gernan) bombed Saki airfield, claimed 10 fires (assumed as burning aircrafts), 2 explosions and explosion of a fuel tank on the northern border of airfield .
3 crews from 21.AP DD 21:33-21:43 MSK also bombed Saki airfield, claimed 8 fires (assumed as burning aircrafts, probably the same), 2 explosions and 6 hits to runway.
Also, 3 crews from 21.AP DD 21:33-22:44 bombed a Saki sanatorium (according to agent data, used by German pilots), claimed 1 building destroyed.

No losses from the Soviet side.

As we can see, results were very good, and claimed results were close to reality.

Of course, many raids were far less successful. But in some cases we can't say nothing about German losses.

I must interrupt the post and continue it tomorow

Best regards,
Andrey

[Larry deZeng]

Sarabus - closest to 18 Apr 43:

24 Apr 43: bombed – 1 x Ju 88 A-4 from 4.(F)/Aufkl.Gr. 122 and 4 x Ju 52s from Transportstaffel I. Fliegerkorps destroyed (4) or damaged (1) on the ground.