From Barbarossa to Odessa (Luftwaffe Strikes Pt 1)

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Before that, let's remember that on the Southern Front there were no Yak-1s, Il-2s or Yer-2s at the start of Operation Barbarossa.

I put my 2 cents to this topic.
Of course Il-2 were not on 22 VI 1941, the 4. SzAP was send on Western Front in the end of June 41. Anyway during the battle for Odessa there were separate assoult unit equipted with Il-2.
Soviet used them - Il-2s - as a "fire brigade", so you should also mentioned this particular small thing in your book (?).
Karlenko, if I am right, is well aware about this topics too.

Yer-2 was a long distance bomber introduced into combat unit in July/August 1941. Firs use during night attak on Berlin in August 1941 ( a few planes)
Such planes (Yer-2) were never used as a "army or frontal bombers" It was high comand reserve - Stalin.
Anyway for example in 55. IAP you have from the begining MiG-3, which was very modern in June 1941.
Secon Su-2 was quite good "assoult-dive" plane, ane there were a few regiment with this bomber.

Romanian P.11, P.24, or He 112, or Hurricane I were not so "factory fresh" like this Soviet fighters. The same was with bombers like P.23 or Blenheims or P.37 and Soviet SB with M-103 engines ect.


Regards
Mirek Wawrzynski,
an author, for example, "Hurricane over Constanca and Odessa" from 2006.