Rashid-bek Chakhovich Akhriev, 20 January 1942

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Hello,

Rashid-bek Chakhovich Akhriev, a Russian WWI bomber pilot, later flew transport aircraft in USSR and was shot down and killed on 20 January when Flak shot down 2 of the 3 aircraft of the flight he was leading. All sources I found agree on that, but give no unit, no aircraft type and no location. And disagree on what mission he was flying, either a bombing raid against an important bridge or a supply mission to Leningrad.

I would be interested in more details about this loss, especially the unit and aircraft. The names of other crew will be an appreciated bonus.

Thanks in advance

PS: I could not find him on https://obd-memorial.ru/html/. My wild guess is that he was probably flying a civilian transport aircraft, and some sources mixed his WWI military service as a bomber pilot with his WWII service.

[kirche]

Originally Posted by Laurent Rizzotti

My wild guess is that he was probably flying a civilian transport aircraft, and some sources mixed his WWI military service as a bomber pilot with his WWII service.

Hello,
Rashid-bek Akhriev was mobilized and served in a "special air group of the Civil Air Fleet" (оаг ГВФ) - these are mobilized groups that were equipped with civilian aircraft (sometimes armed).
the data are contradictory:
- some say that he served under the leadership of Sh.L.Chankotadze (in the war this is the Kiev OAG GVF). He until 1941 he served in the Kharkov aviation flight of the Ukrainian department of the Civil Air Fleet - apparently that's why his commander indicated haw Chankotadze?;
- others say he served in the "Northwest OAG GVF", but it wasn’t.
- R-b.Ch.Akhriev was buried in Arbuzovo, Kirovsky District, Leningrad Region. Flights to besieged Leningrad were carried out by pilots MAGON GVF, SAGON GVF, AGSON GVF (in operational subordination of the Leningrad front).

TsAMO has very little information about the combat work of all these units, about their losses of crews and aircraft. All this information is stored in the archive of the Civil Air Fleet.
Best regards,
Kirill

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thanks for the reply. Still a confused case, but at least it seems probable that he was NOT in a bomber unit, and so very probably not lost in an "important bombing raid".