BL-154 and BL-157

[Urusut]

Hello!

Can anyone provide details of the loss of the Finnish plane Bristol «Blenheim» Mk.I BL-154 and BL-157 on the 15.04.1942?

Thank you in advance!
Oleg

[Matti Salonen]

15.04.1942, 2./LeLv 42, BL-154, Varbenitsa
Pilot Kers Laurila, Valto, KIA
Observer Vänr Koivula, Martti, KIA
Gunner Kers Fennander, Uuno, KIA
Explosion of own bomb in the aircraft at 05.00.
15.04.1942, 1./LeLv 42, BL-157, Varbenitsa
Pilot Vänr Peltola, Erkki, KIA
Observer Vänr Hamari, Jouko, KIA
Gunner Ylik Rekola, Yrjö, KIA
Explosion of own bomb in the aircraft at 05.00.
15.04.1942, 1./LeLv 42, BL-159, Varbenitsa
Pilot Ltm Peltola, Arvo, KIA
Observer Vänr Tuulio, Pentti, KIA
Gunner Kers Riutta, Salomon, KIA
Explosion of own bomb in the aircraft at 05.00.

Matti

[Stig Jarlevik]

Matti

Conflicting information exists for the loss of these three aircraft.
Either shot down by Soviet AA-fire or destroyed by their own bombs.

Was the latter based on facts or simply a theory?
I have seen a report that it was the bombs security pins that had become loose during taxiing
and take off.

Since presumably the other 16 aircraft in the attack force all dropped their bombs safely,
how was this established?

B Rgds
Stig

[Matti Salonen]

Stig

You are right that there are two conflicting theories of the cause of these losses. In the beginning it was thought that securing pins had become loose and the bombs exploded when hitting the spring loaded doors. This was later found unlikely, because the direction and force of impact could not explode the bombs. Therefore it was suspected that the reason was simply intense AA-fire.
For safety reasons in the future 250 kg bombs were used only with the tail detonator and use of 25 kg bombs was prohibited, Therefore I am using the original explanation of the loss.

Matti

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Matti

It would be interesting to know if the Finns standard tactics were to fly in a rough formation
during night attacks or if they flew far more spread out?

If the time stated is accurate, the three aircraft exploded more or less simultaneously
and thus the time must have been given by the returning crews.

On the other hand loosing some 15% of an attacking force to night time AA-fire is pretty spectacular,
and I understand if a different theory was thought out.

Since I have not made any general assessment of for instance Luftwaffe losses at night I doubt
they ever came close to loosing that many aircraft to Soviet AA-fire over a specific target.

Did Ilmavoimat ever loose that many aircraft to Soviet AA-fire either before or after this event?
I don't think so....

B Rgds
Stig

[Urusut]

Many thanks, Matti and Stig!

Regards,
Oleg

[Matti Salonen]

Stig

I don't know very much of the bomber tactics, but those three Blenheims flew in loose formation and were exploded simultaneously and therefore it is difficult to believe that AA could hit three aircraft at the same time.

There is another almost similar event on 11.06.1944 when three Dornier 17 Z (DN-54, DN-56 and DN-61) were shot down at 14.00 by Soviet AA.

Regards,

Matti

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks again Matti

Strange isn't it.
Maybe it was problems with the bombs after all?

A really bad night for Ilmavoimat

B Rgds
Stig

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Hello Matti,

Originally Posted by Matti Salonen

... Varbenitsa

Where is it? It looks like a distorted name.

Best regards,
Andrey

[Matti Salonen]

Hi Andrey

Also I have not found it in the map. In the documents is it written "Varbenitsa" or "Varbinitsa". The bombing target was a logistic center located at that place.

Regards,

Matti