Ask for advice: the German bombing of Poltava Perspective

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

With regard to the Luftwaffe aircraft that spotted the American Formations heading for Russian Territory. As you say a He 111. Also I have seen this recorded as a Ju88 and an He177.
From what I have read it would seem that the first a/c followed for quite some time, then a second a/c took up the task and indeed followed right up to the Russian Air Base. This was indeed a pure chance interception by the Luftwaffe and indeed paid off very well by the follow up by the attacking bombers that same night.

Although the Americans had used the Russian Bases earlier by the 15th AAF this was the first 8th AAF mission to Russia.But the mission was "Frantic II".

Bomber Groups were the 95th;96th;100th;388th;390th;452nd; Of the 163 B17,s despatched, 20 B17's returned to the UK early,( IIRC never even crossing into Europe).
114 bombed Rhuland (777x 500lb GP bombs and 295x100lb incendiary bombs.
26 bombed Elsterwerda (6 x 500lb GP bombs and 946 x 100lb incendiary bombs.
2 bombers dropped leaflets.
1 bomber bombed Podlaska (8 x 500lb GP bombs).
137 B17's returned to Their Russian Base.
7 came down in Russian Territory.
1 B17 was lost to Flak.
Casualties were 1 MIA; 1 KIA, 5 WIA's and 10 MIA's.
Claims were 1 destroyed, 1 probable and 3 damaged.
41 B17's from the 95th and 390th BG's landed at Mirgorod, 73 B17's from the 96th, 100th, 388th and 452nd BG's landed at Poltava.
F/O.Joseph G. Lukacek a B17 co-pilot was killed and Lt. Raymond C. Estle a pilot was wounded and later died of his injuries.

As for the Fighter's.
4th FG with the 352nd FG ( 486th FS only).
70 were despatched
5 returned early
65 reached target Rhuland, 63 landed at Russian Base
1 down in Russian territory
1 was MIA, 4th FG 335th FS 43-6784 "WD-X" 1Lt. Frank T. Sibbett KIA MACR 6800 lost near Bjala, Poland.
Claims were 6 destroyed and 2 damaged.
Of the other Fighters, P38's some 72 were despatched there were 2 MIA.
and P47's 38 were despatched again 2 were MIA
D H Mosquito, 2 were despatched by the 802nd PS, 7th PG .
On the field at Poltava on the 21st were 73 B17's, 3 B24's, 4 P38's, 4 C-47's, and 14 single motor a/c.
Destroyed were 47 B17's, 1 P38, 3 C47's, and 2 single motor a/c.

All the very best
Alex