Operation Barbarossa 22.6.41 - KG 3 and KG 53

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Tim
Ju 88s had taken SC 250 and SD 50 bombs agianst Soviet's airfields on 22.06.41.
Interesting if they had mixed or not bombs load?


mw

[Tim O.]

Thanks Mirek.

I have a Flugbuch for a man with 5./KG53. He did not fly against Russia until 23rd June but he did record the bomb loads for his Heinkel He 111 as follows:

Leutnant Horn + Unteroffizier Petersen He 111 A1+EN Target Rushan Take-off: Radom 23.6.41 12:40 15:48 Landed: Radom Bomb load 1 x 1000, 16 x 50
Leutnant Horn + Unteroffizier Petersen He 111 A1+AN Target Lusk Take-off: Radom 24.6.41 14:32 18:37 Landed:Radom Bomb load 1 x 500, 16 x 50
Leutnant Horn + Unteroffizier Petersen He 111 A1+AN Target Mogilev Take-off: Kzerwika 26.6.41 21:32 27.6.41 01:40 Landed:Kzerwika Bomb load 1 x 500, 16 x 50

Not a Ju88 I know but maybe indicates the type of mixed load carried.

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Thanks

Rushan is probably Różan,
Lusk is Łuck,
Mogilev is Mogilew,

The I/54 in the first attack of 22.06.41 of 23 Ju 88 had dropted 44 SC 250 and 220 SD 50 against 3 airfields: Kamień Koszyrski, Kołki and Janówka. So it could be 1-2 SC 250 plus 9-10 SD 50 on each bomber in one mission. Each airfield could attacked by wave of 7-8 Ju 88s each.

In the second wave of attack 8 Ju 88s of I/KG54 used 30 SC 250 plus 80 SD 50 against only Wielick.

mw

[Tim O.]

Thanks Mirek.

[oquaig]

Originally Posted by Tim O.

Thanks Mirek.

I have a Flugbuch for a man with 5./KG53. He did not fly against Russia until 23rd June but he did record the bomb loads for his Heinkel He 111 as follows:

Leutnant Horn + Unteroffizier Petersen He 111 A1+EN Target Rushan Take-off: Radom 23.6.41 12:40 15:48 Landed: Radom Bomb load 1 x 1000, 16 x 50
Leutnant Horn + Unteroffizier Petersen He 111 A1+AN Target Lusk Take-off: Radom 24.6.41 14:32 18:37 Landed:Radom Bomb load 1 x 500, 16 x 50
Leutnant Horn + Unteroffizier Petersen He 111 A1+AN Target Mogilev Take-off: Kzerwika 26.6.41 21:32 27.6.41 01:40 Landed:Kzerwika Bomb load 1 x 500, 16 x 50

Not a Ju88 I know but maybe indicates the type of mixed load carried.

So, if I am to understand from these entries, this particular crew was flying only one sortie a day ?

[Tim O.]

Originally Posted by oquaig

So, if I am to understand from these entries, this particular crew was flying only one sortie a day ?

That is correct.

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Tim
do you have other info about bomb loads of German crews in June 1941
during their mission over Soviet territory

It is intereting, that Soviet crew's bomber loads was much more smaller, for example, standar bomb load of SB was 600 kg (6 FAB-100) and in DB-3F 1000 kg (10xFAB-100).

mw

[Tim O.]

Hi Mirek

Unfortunately I have no other records for bomb loads used against Russia. Maybe the man from 5./KG 53 kept a record because he was the Flight Engineer?

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Ok, thanks, it is very intersting, that bomb loads show you quite different tactics and effectivnes of use bomber force by both side on the begining of Barbarossa. It is also explaing such great tactical success of LW over VVS RKKA.

Many time it is neglected by many, and this is wrong.

mw