Albemarle P1645

[BrianC]

Hi guys

P1645 was one of the Albemarles sold to Russia. It was en route to Russia from Scotland on 27 April 1943, but was apparently shot down over Sweden.

One source says it was shot down by Swedish AA fire; another that it was shot down by Bf109s (over Sweden?)

Also, P1655 failed to arrive earlier, on 11 March. Do we know its fate?

Cheers
Stay safe

Brian

[Leendert]

Brian,

This website https://www.airhistory.net/files/st/foreigners.pdf has P1455 that was lost on 11 Mar 1943... "Disappeared without trace".

Regards,
Leendert

[Stig Jarlevik]

Brian

Rolph Wegman has done an incredible job to document all incidents with British aircraft involving Sweden.

So far he has found nothing to indicate that any of the two Albemarles you are looking for had any Swedish connection.

As far as I know there are no longer any classified documents related to any of those incidents. Possibly some classified files still exists for individuals but not the incidents themselves. No unknown wrecks or body parts which can relate to the war have ever been found.

There is of course always a possibility that "something" could crash within Swedish/Norwegian/Finnish territory without being seen or heard (Sweden completely lacked any radar equipment until post war and if you ever have travelled up north in Scandinavia you have no problems finding very isolated areas), but you can forget any kind of "secret" military activities in relation to lost aircraft over Sweden.

Cheers
Stig

[Alex Smart]

AB's P1000-R9999 has on page 11,

P1455
2 OAPU/305 FTU
Lost end route to USSR 10.3.1943.

P1477
305 FTU
To Russia 10.3.1943.

P1562
305 FTU
To Russia 25.4.1943.

P1567
305 FTU
To Russia 3.3.1943.

P1590
305 FTU
To Russia 15.3.1943.

P1595
305 FTU
To Russia 25.4.1943.

P1636
305 FTU
To Russia 31.3.1943.

P1637
305 FTU
To Russia 31.3.1943.

P1638
305 FTU
To Russia 25.4.1943.

P1640
305 FTU
To Russia 4.4.1943.

P1642
305 FTU
To Russia 12.4.1943.

P1645
305 FTU
To Russia 27.4.1943 and lost in transit.

P1647
305 FTU
To Russia 12.4.1943.

AB's T1000 - V9999 page 85

V1598
305 FTU
Mk.1; to Russia 27.4.1943.

Presumably they were crewed by Soviet Aircrews ?
The usual were 4 crew, but would there have been more in these aircraft ?

[Nick Hector]

27.4.43/2324
10/NJG 3
Fw. Walter Schlette
Albemarle ("Manchester")
30km NE of Skagen
P1645. St.Lt. F F Ilchenko and crew all KIA

[Stig Jarlevik]

Very interesting Nick

The German claim remains unidentified by Theo Boiten, but sounds quite plausible.

It seems like a dangerous route to take, especially with an aircraft like the Albemarle (must be one of the worst aircraft put in production by the British)

It means this (all?) Albemarle more or less was following the courier route between Britain and Sweden and it looks very much like it would have to cross Swedish territory at night but after that would have had a long run across the Baltic and German held territory before reaching its destination.

I have never heard of anyone in Sweden writing anything about such traffic. Was this normal procedure at this point in time? I doubt the Swedish Government was aware of this, since it clearly put all "normal" courier flights into serious jeopardy and also puts new light upon why the Germans shot down/hunted everything in sight along this route.

Cheers
Stig

[Alex Smart]

Hello Nick,
Where did you find the Luftwaffe details for the claim and pilots name, did it give any more details about the crew and where were they laid to rest ?
Alex

[BrianC]

Many thanks, guys

Much appreciated


Cheers
Stay safe
Brian

[Graham Boak]

There is a thorough account of the Albemarle programme, and every individual early ferry flight, in Kotelnikov"s superb Lend Lease and Soviet Aviation in WW2. The flight path was Errol- Skagerrak-Norkopping-Chudovo-Bologoe-Kalyazin-Vnukovo. The loss of P1645 was observed by the pilot of V15998. Initially thought to be Swedish AA it was later found to be the Luftwaffe.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Graham

Always one book too little on the shelf.

Rather stunning the author lists Norrköping as one of the fixes, meaning they passed right across Sweden at night.
Well, we didn't have any nightfighters either during the war, so it wasn't very dangerous.

Was the place Chudovo in Soviet hands, or was it just another break point?
Does the book list any other aircraft flying from Britain to Soviet Union over Swedish territory? I know about the flights in 1941 etc in the north, but this was very different.

Cheers
Stig