Soviet bomber unit ORAJe 28 N ??

[Brian]

Hi guys

I have a note that a bomber unit identified as ORAJe 28 N. flew night sorties against Kirkenes iin December 1942. I believe it operated DB-3Fs.

Can anyone confirm, please? And did it have another designation?

Cheers
Brian

[HGabor]

Pe-3? ('Cause recce. units needed faster planes than DB-3F...) Later 118 ORAP. See:
http://allaces.ru/sssr/struct/e_rae.php

For Soviet air units this site is the best start:
http://allaces.ru/sssr/struct/main.php

[Brian]

Many thanks, Gabor.

While I've got your attention, are you able to confirm the loss of two Soviet Hampdens during this period?

I believe one crashed on 24 December 1942, with wounded/injured pilot. Was this an operational flight?

Another was lost on 1 January 1943 near Vardo (crew killed). Was this aircraft involved in an attack on Kirkenes on the night of 31 December/1 January?

Cheers
Brian

[HGabor]

Hi Brian, I'll look into it. Do you know this site? Many soviet planes in the North. Cheers,
Gabor

http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/allied-2.html

[HGabor]

Hi Brian,
28 ораэ lost an SB during transfer flight between Vaenga? and Yagodnik? on December 23, 1942, gv.capt. nikolai Efimovich Zharubin's crew MIA.

Same unit lost another SB plane on December 27, 1942: gv.capt. Constantin Pavlovich Volodin's crew (Volodin-Simonov-Azamatov) was MIA.

No info on December 24 crash.

But: on January 1, 1943 the 24 MTAP (not 28 ораэ!) lost one Hampden indeed in the Vaede??? area with the following crew:

gv.capt. Andrei Zinovyevich Stoyanov pilot, comm. 2nd Sq.
Capt. Pavel Arsentevich Korovinskiy navigator, 2nd Sq.
gv.st.sgt. Zaitsev radioman
Sgt. Kovtun gunner.

Hope this helps. Cheers,
Gabor

[Juha]

Hello Gabor, thanks for the names of gv.captain Stoyanov's crew.

Juha

[HGabor]

You're most welcome.
Gabor

[andrus]

Originally Posted by Brian

I believe one crashed on 24 December 1942, with wounded/injured pilot. Was this an operational flight?

Morozov has one loss on 21.12. training flight, 4 injured, crew of captain Piskarjev.

Another was lost on 1 January 1943 near Vardo (crew killed). Was this aircraft involved in an attack on Kirkenes on the night of 31 December/1 January

Morozov Torpedo planes. second print, page 253:

At the evening of 31. Dec. soviets got info about german navy attack against convoy JW-51B.
As late reaction on the morning at 08:30 o'clock six Hampdens started under leadership of captain Stojanov.
After unsuccessful search near Norwegian coast they turned back. Ca 11:30, near Vardö, 4 miles from coast, plane of leader suddenly catched fire and fell into sea.
Germans also saw the accident.

[Brian]

Many thanks, Andrus

I have a note that the Commander of 24-MTAP Lt.Col. Nikolai Vedmedenko was killed 21 December 1942 when Hampden P5315 crashed on a training flight.

Is that incorrect?

Cheers
Brian

[andrus]

According to Morozov, commander of 24. AP Ведмеденко Николай Никитович was killed on 16. March 1943 in landing accident during operational flight, flying Il-4.
Date is confirmed by obd-memorial.ru