Number of Luftwaffe sorties flown 22 June 1941

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Western MD

OKAE 206 Mezovetsk (with 124 IAP) 14 R-Zet, 6 USB, 1 SSS-1;
OKAE 1 Dobrinevka 13 R-Zet, 5 USB, 1 S-2;
OKAE 5 Rutka 13 R-Zet, 5 USB, 1 S-2;
OKAE 28 Minkovichi 13 R-Zet, 5 USB, 1 S-2;
OKAE 106 Kvater 13 R-Zet, 5 USB, 2 S-2;
OKAE 4 Poshitsa 14 R-Zet, 5 USB, 1 S-2;
OKAE 21 Dretun 14 R-Zet, 5 USB, 1 S-2;
OKAE 47 Bobruisk 14 R-Zet, 5 USB, 1 S-2;
OKAE 105 Pruzhany?; 14 MK
Also there was the 10 OAE of the NKVD based at Karolina (Grodno)

Something wrong with name of planes? USB it is a training version of SB, in such units there were not such big //two engined traing planes?
There are to much 13-14 R-Zet in each units. According official structure from 1940 should be about 7 R-Zet plus 6 U-2

Second there were many variants in KAE of R-5like: R-5, next R-5 SSS (assoult version of R-5) and also R-Zet (bomber version of R-5). There are too many R-Zet in my opinion in these units.
Next, there were many U-2 (Po-2) there too, should be an average 6-7 in each such KAE.

10. OAE of NKWD had about 12-13 Neman R-10 plus a few next U-2/Po-2 in Karolin (Polish name and airfield)) west of Grodno about 10 km. On 22.06.41 there were next 2 I-153 of 127. IAP, which were send to find German intruders, which crosssed border earlier). Both had fought first air battles versus Me 109 about 4-5 a.m. German had claimed one of the fist victories over there (2 I-153s), but only one was in fact lost, second retured to the unit.

There were 3 next NKWD flights - 1 in North-Western Front on SB and MBR-2 - 11. OAE and 2 more in South Front (Odessa Military Ditrict) - 6., 7. OAE NKVD.

OKAE 106 Kvater - Polish name is Kwatery, place which had came 3 regiment from 9. SAD on 22-23.06.41.

OKAE 206 Mezovetsk - Wysoki Mazowieck, there were ony 2 flights (escadrilas) of 124. IAP, the next two were in Łomża. I have information, maybe wrong, that 206. KAE was in Łomża not in Wysokie Mazowieck?

OKAE 105 Pruzhany? - Prużany - maybe it was the same place where were plans of 33. IAP and 74. SzAP? And it is quite possible according claims of German pilots over there?

BTW 1., according plans all reccon regiments (RAP, like 311. RAP and next one too, which had SB, Jak-2, Jak-4) - there were 1-3 in each fronts - should be slpit/divided on small independent reccon flights (ORAE) after the begining of war.

BTW 2. Not only Smuszkiewicz was in this meeting held in Decemer 1940, alo was gen G. Krawczenko (2 HSU), which also underline small impact of air assoult attack done by his unit on JAAF during Chalchin-Gol.

Regards
mirekw