Number of Luftwaffe sorties flown 22 June 1941

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Apart from the understandable chaos and confusion following the initial attack during Barbarossa, what is your impression on the available records on the organization and strength records of the VVS? What do they contain, and where were these recorded and updated at the time?

Quite detailed as on 1.06.1941, all front's OdB are well know including amount of planes on the begining June 1941. Less know is informaion about small flights of reccon units which were attached to corps level. Many times thses units were on the sam airfiled like fighter or assoult regiments. Such small units are often ommited from general OdB structure, but there were tens of such flights (about 10-15 planes) on the border.

Between 1.06 - 22.06 had come new planes to western borders and fronts (fighters, bombers, assolut, this is not so exactly know i was movements). Second many planes from army'regiments were withdrawn (old SB, I-153, I-15bis, I-16 ect. and were replaced by Pe-2, Su-2, Jak-1, MiG-3, Jak-2, Jak-4, Ił-2). These old planes were send to form new regiments on the back, for examole 74. SzAP had given some of its old planes (I-15 bis, I-153) to next one. It was waiting for supply of Ił-2, (had got 3 or 2 before 22.06.41). Such fact anyway are also known. Depends what you are looking for and in which area, and period?
The same was with part of crews send for training on modern planes. Many crews were send for training before 22.0641, some others were waiting for planes.

Anyway, general data for amount of combat planes are available (VVS RKKA, civil aviaton attached to VVS RKKA as a transport, Fleet's aviation, NKVD's aviation).

Even in the Moscow Conference in 1940 the assembled VVS commanders thought that strikes on air fields were not that effective.

If right remeber Smushkievicz had given then own impression after Chalchin-Gol or other high commander. In fact, Soviet aviation had inflicted small losses on JAAF on land, most were done in air combats.
Yes, I know his material, Stiepanov had edited several years ago very good book about development of Soviet aviation/power in 1939-1941. It was small run edition (twice edited book), very good indeed.
Effectivnes of LW over France over air bases were not so high, but after they introduced small bobs SD-2, SD-10, which were better agians such targets but were not so devastating as was written in Cajus Bekker's book or other Wester material - much overpromoted effects then fact.

Regards,
mrwekw