Question regarding loss of 2 Bomber Gruppenkomandeure on 22 April 1943

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Hello Paul,

Originally Posted by Paul Thompson

Where was the train stationed?

The armoured train was the mobile system

Timoshevskaya station was without AA defence at that time, and German recce a/c flew over the station night by night on the low level and bombed it from time to time. To change the situation, AA train was moved from Kropotkin. Then Do217 have used this stereotype tactics ones again, the AA train have downed him by suddenly opened fire at close range.

Originally Posted by Paul Thompson

Do you have any information about the Johann Boos loss on 16 May? It's surprising he evaded capture for several days deep in Soviet territory.

Not surprising. It is a great steppe, land with sparse population and sparse military posts.

Regards,
Andrey

[Paul Thompson]

Originally Posted by Andrey Kuznetsov

Hello Paul,

The armoured train was the mobile system

Timoshevskaya station was without AA defence at that time, and German recce a/c flew over the station night by night on the low level and bombed it from time to time. To change the situation, AA train was moved from Kropotkin. Then Do217 have used this stereotype tactics ones again, the AA train have downed him by suddenly opened fire at close range.

Not surprising. It is a great steppe, land with sparse population and sparse military posts.

Regards,
Andrey

Hello Andrey,

I see, so it was a deliberate ambush. Some very poor mission planning on the part of the Germans, but they probably felt safe in the dark in the absence of night fighters. I suppose it still happens, there is a faint similarity with the F-117 shoot down in 1999, when stereotypical tactics were also responsible.

You are right about the steppe, I suppose Boos' years of military experience also helped.

Regards,

Paul Thompson