The Defeat of Gladiators, 29 II 1940

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Hi
In May 2006 has beed edited my story about Defeat of Gladiators. This is a story about air combats over Roukolahti on 29 II 1940. On this day 23 Soviets I-16, I-153 had attacked FAF air base (Gladiators and Fokkers D.XXI). In about 15 minutes Soviets had claimed about 20 victories over FAF. Losses were smaller but also heavy (6 fighters = 5 Gladiators + 1 D.XXI, 3 KIA, 3 WIA). Sovites lost 2 I-16 + 7 damaged.
The story was edited in Militaria XX wieku 3/2006. Text has 7 pages, 2 colors (Gladiator GL-263, D.XXI) and about 10 b&w photos.
Text in Polish and English captions.

Regards,
Mirek Wawrzynski

[Alex Smart]

Hello Mirek,

I expect you have this already but just in case you do not.

From Alex Crawford's Book on the Gloster Gladiator by Mushroom.

GL268;GL262;GL259;GL261;GL263 were those lost .

Also from "Ilmavoimat talvisodassa"
GL269;GL268;GL262;GL259;GL261;GL263.
Followed by FR94 and BL126
It looks like also GL252 and GL258 were damaged (?)

alex

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Hi
I had put all the ID plane number in the story (names of pilot ect.). Alex had made some small error during writing it (Gloster Gladiator book).
I can not say more about ID I have them at home, now being out them.

The damages were not so high and if Iam right all surviving Gloster were handed over to other unit. LLv 26 had got at last Fiat G.50.


Regards,
Mirek W

[alex crawford]

Hi Mirek,

Could you tell me what errors I made so I can correct my files? I'm preparing a 2nd edition of my Gladiator book so any corrections would be gratefully received.

I have edited this post to let you see what info I have on this combat. It has been slightly updated since my book was published. I am aware that your article will contain more details than I have, but I would like to know what errors I have made.

In the morning of the 29th several Gladiators were scrambled to intercept an approaching raid. A dogfight ensued with the escorting fighters and as a result alik P Kosola, GL-269, was shot down by a 1-153 from 49 lAP and killed.

Throughout the War the Soviets had attacked Finnish airfields without much success, until that is they attacked the Gladiators base at Ruokolahdella. A mixed formation of six I-153s and 18 I-16s, from 68 OIAP, swept over the base, which was really just a frozen lake, strafing every thing in site. Some Gladiators were already in the air having just returned from patrol and these attacked at once. As this was happening several more Gladiators attempted to get airborne and three were shot down by the Soviet fighters as they took off. There were also some Fiats at the base and these took off as well. Altogether five Gladiators were shot down, as well as a Fokker D.XX1 which took part in the low altitude battle, these being;

vääp 0 Lilja Wounded GL-268 1-16 68 OIAP
luutn A Hame Killed GL-262 1-16 68 OIAP
luutn C Kristensen Killed GL-259 1-16 68 OIAP
luutn P Christensen Wounded GL-261 1-16 68 OIAP
vääp J Tolkki Wounded GL-263 1-16 68 OIAP

During the hectic dogfight that followed kers S Suikkanen, GL-256 was able to bring down one of the I-16s. Ground fire accounted for two more Soviet fighters. The Fiats were unable to claim but later in the day they brought down three SB bombers from 57 AP over Suomenlahti.


Thanks,

Alex

[alex crawford]

Hi Mirek,

Don't know if you saw my reply to your post, but could you let me know what errors I made as I would like to correct them.

Alex

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Hi
on the mornig was fight with 3 I-16 of 68 OIAP not 49 IAP, one Soviet pilot (later HSU) claimed 2 victories (Gladiator + Bulldog) it was lejt. Miasicz - he returned to the base wtuh about 80 holes (most probably washit by Juutilainen), Soviet had made reccon flight to detect FAF airfield, which was succesfull reccon.

Finns had just returned from the morning patrol and were in landing approach, when Miasicz got Gladiator.

The next attack was done 12.00-12.15 acroding Finns time and 13.00-13.15 according Soviets
In the next battel there were no any G.50 only D.XXI and Gladiaors.

There were a combat the D.XXI + Galdiator v. 3 I-16 (Juutilained claimed 1 victory)
D.XXI was not shot down but rammed by Soviet pilot, he later returend to the base on damged plane.
Soviet lost only 2 I-16 (1 KIA -Jefimov of 1./68. IAP, 1 PoW-Volochov of 2./68 IAP) + 7 damaged.

Galdiators + D.XXi were on the take off not on the return flight. They got a little bit info about coming Soviet bombers, so they took off. Soviet had great/ incredible luck because they attacked at the time of getting airborn the
whole FAF unit.

Fiat G.50 was taken by exactly the crews of LLV 26 next day, handing over the survived 7 Gladiaotors to other units (LLv 12, LLV 14 (if right remeber.

Regards
mw

[alex crawford]

Hi Mirek,

Thank you very much for the corrections. I will update my files accordingly.

Regards,

Alex

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Hi
Alex
this combat of D.XXI+Gladiator v. 3 I-16 (including one piloted by Miasicz who claimed 2 biplanes then) was on the morning not on the 12.00-12.15.


The next battle was on 12.00-12.15 Finnish time when the Soviet had come with two formation one 11 fighters, second 12 fighters (mixed 17 I-16 + 6 I-153). Soviet had got Finns during take off (in the mid air) - incredible luck. Finns got info about coming 21 or 12 Soviet bomber so they took off to get them. In fact there were fighters, which had come on the base founded on the morning by Miasicz reccon unit.

Finns had claimed 8 victories later reduced to only 2 (and confirmed)
After this battle Finns had changed airbase (on 1 March, very early overflown to Lemi south-west to Roukolahti)

Regards
Mirek W