JG 54 near Leningrad in August, 1942

[Nikita Egorov]

Yes, Juha, you are right. In the case with VVS one major problem always comes up. The organisational structure was fixed more or less only in 1943. Before this we face abolute mess of regiments, divisions, VVS of armies, groups and etc. Taking into consideration the fact that 1942 was not successful for Soviet army many documents were lost in retreats and incirclements.
Another case is when one unit emerged from another (this was common practise). E.g. 263 BAD was primarily formed as 263 IAD in summer 1942 comprising of 812 IAP, 813 IAP, 814 IAP. Documents of 263 BAD begin only from converting into bomber division and the period with fighters is lost in details at least regarding 813 IAP and 814 IAP, which funds in TsAMO are empty. Only history of 812 IAP (thanks to Vlad Antipov and Igor Utkin) can shed some light on the activities of this division through the short period in summer 1942.
Such situation can be frequently met in Russian archives.

Originally Posted by Juha

Hello Nikita
thanks for the clarification. I understood from Andrey’s message that there are units from which it is very difficult to get info. It is sad to hear that there are units from which it is very difficult/partly impossible to get info. It is sad partly because it makes it more difficult to research the actions of the Axis side but much more importantly because it makes the research of VVS more difficult. Even if the main purpose of historical research is to form an analytical picture on the past, gaps in the facts make analysis more difficult or even faulty. And it is also sad if deeds of some units become forgotten. As we Finns sometimes say, everybody is worth of a song.

Best regards
Juha