Yet another for our Russian experts, please!

[Brian]

Hi guys

I note that R-5 biplanes were still being used as night bombers on the Far Northern Front as late as September 1942, and were used in operations against Petsamo and Kirkenes in some numbers.

My query is - which unit were these aircraft from and from which base did they operate for these sorties; and were any lost?

Cheers
Brian

[kirche]

Hi Brian,
It's maybe 668 NBAP
Regards,
Kirill

[Brian]

Thanks Kirill

Where can I find information on 668 NBAP, please?

I've googled without success.

Cheers
Brian

[kirche]

Brian,
Good Samaritans help to look for:
"Ctrl+F" - "668" or "Р-5"
http://militera.lib.ru/h/inozemtsev_ig4/05.html
https://unotices.com/book.php?id=88172&page=14
info 668 NBAP \ ShaP from VVS 14A
http://allaces.ru/sssr/struct/p/shap668.php

The award documents of the commander and komissar of the regiment (major Архипенко Тимофей Николаевич and major Петранин Иван Максимович):
for the period 26.01.1942 - __.10.1942 668 NBAP made a 702 combat mission at night (1321 hours 43 minutes), 520 training missions blindly,
dropped 180 tons of bombs, expended 7200 rounds, leaflets 2.5 million.
Lost 3 aircraft (5 man crew) - shot down over target. 1 aircraft - non-combat loss.
In August - September 1942 bombed airfields Luostari, Girvas, Mayatalo, Kirkenes, Hebukten (the regimental commander personally made combat mission on 19 August, 8,10,28 September)
I found,
Losses in September 1942:
16/17.09.1942 - ?? Ковакин Павел Константинович (pilot) + St.Lt Балабанов Владимир Васильевич (navigator AE) - MIA
27/28.09.1942 - Lt. Башкиров Сергей Дмитриевич (pilot) - KIA (by shrapnel AA in the head - Navigator Gubin N.D. landed the aircraft on airfield)

Other losses:
07.02.1942 - Tihonov V.A. - lost orientation, the plane is broken area 150-200 km ost Lowozero lake, the pilot is frozen.
17.02.1942 - Yachmenev V.T. - KIA ? - area Sennoe lake, found 19.02.1942
23.02.1942 - Yefimov S.S. +Andrianov I.F. - POW 24/02/1942 Kestingi, Finnland

Best regards,
Kirill

[Brian]

Many thanks once again, Kirill

Excellent information

Cheers
Brian

[andrus]

For second half of 1942 I found following attacks by R-5 from Chronicle (date/number of sorties/target location):

09.09. 10 Luostari
11.09. 10 Luostari
16.09. 16 Luostari and Høybukten
22.09. 4 Luostari
22.09. 5 storehouses near Titowka
23.09. 6 Luostari
23.09. 4 Høybukten
23.09. 4 Nautsi
27.09. 18 Høybukten
28.09. 8 Luostari
28.09. 6 Nautsi
28.09. 2 Høybukten
10.10. 2 Nautsi

Nothing about possible losses

[Carl-Fredrik Geust]

Some additional information of 668 BAP R-5 losses mentioned above:
- 7.2.1942 pilot Sn.Lt. Dormidov was rescued, navigator Capt. V.A. Tikhonov DOW 19.2.1942 - crash 150-200 km E Lake Lovozero, loss of orientation
- 16-17.2.1942 (night) Capt Vasiliy T. Yachmenyev and Sn.Lt Mikhail N. Rudzevich were found dead at crash site at Lake Sennoye - apparently shot down by German fighters
- 23-24.2.1942 (night) Sn.Lt. Sergei Semenovich Yefimov and Lt Ivan Filippovich Andrianov were captured by Finnish troops upon force-landing at Kuukasjärvi after loss of orientation on Alakurtti bombing mission. At least Yefimov (possibly also Andrianov) was handed over to German AOK on 26.2.1942 (after Finnish interrogation of the POWs).
-16-17.9.1942 P.K. Kovakin was apparently only "krasnoarmeyets" (private Soldier)
- 27-28.9.1942 Gubin was able to land at Shogui-2 AF base.

[Brian]

Many, many thanks, guys

Your combined input has really helped me understand the operations of this little-known unit.

Did 668-NBAP have a fixed base, or did it operate from different airfields during 1942? For example, for operations against Luostari from where did the R-5s operate? Shonguy?

Also, on 27/28 September - is there an account of Gubin's flight to Shonguy after his pilot had been killed? Did he receive recognition? What was his first name?

Cheers
Brian

[HGabor]

Hi Brian,
Yes, 'ordena krasnovo znameni'. He was starshina Nikolai Denisovich Gubin. e-mail sent about the event.
Gabor

[Carl-Fredrik Geust]

According to the Finnish questioning protocols of Andrianov and Yefimov 25.2.1942 the main base of 668 BAP was Afrikanda, from where the Alakurtti attack was performed.