1st Latvian Night Bombing Aviation Regiment of the V-VS

[Carl-Fredrik Geust]

Arvo,

you should try to find the book “Latyshkiy aviatsionnyj polk” by D.Ya.Zil´manovich and P.Ye.El´vikh (Liesma, Riga 1975). This book (which probably also was published in Latvian) is a very detailed history of 1st Latvian NBAP, and really one of the best Soviet-time aviation regiment histories (despite the inevitable propaganda style). There are a number of photos of regiment personnel in front of Po-2s – unfortunately no full aircraft views, nor any special camo/insignia visible.



In the two-volume anthology of Latvian units in the Red Army “Na pravyj boj, na smertnyj boj” (Liesma, Riga, 1972), Vol.2 contains also a brief history of the regiment: Nikolaj Vulf: “V nebe rodiny” (pp. 102-118).



On 22 August 1944 Vulf (flight leader) and El´vich (navigator of the same flight) performed a daring mission with a captured Go 145 over German held territory, dropping a letter from Feldmarschall Paulus to the Commander of HG Nord F.Schörner, urging to latter to capiltulate. (This mission was briefly described in my books “Under the Red Star” and “Red Stars Vol.2”)



Carl