828 ShAP losses October 1944

[Laurent Rizzotti]

A question for our Russian friends. I am interested in the losses of 828 ShAP during the Soviet October 44 offensive in Finland.

Thanks in advance

[Carl-Fredrik Geust]

Do you mean the Petsamo (Pechenga)-Kirkenes offensive in October 1944? There was no "FINNISH" operations of the Red Army (or VVS) in October 1944 as Finland and USSR had signed an armistice already 4/5 September 1944!
Carl

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Yes, the Petsamo offensive. It was Finnish territory at the time. I use this rather vague term as I don't know if Soviet planes also supported Finnish troops advancing north in Tornio-Kemi-Rovaniemi area (or rather attacked German troops in the area, probably without coordination with the Finnish).

[Rune Rautio]

During October 1944 828 ShAP (260 ShAD) seem to have been deployed against German troop movements in the northern part of the Arctic Sea Front (Petsamo - Kirkenes) only. I have recorded six losses during that month:

08.10.44 at lake Koshkajärvi, Finland (Petsamo)
10.10.44 (2x) at lake Koshkajärvi , Finland (Petsamo)
25.10.44 at Neiden, Norway
26.10.44 at Neiden or Pasvik, Norway
27.10.44 at Neiden, Norway

Rune

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Hi Rune, thanks for the list. Do you have details about the crews ? Or a book where your list is coming from ?

Thanks in advance

[Rune Rautio]

Hi Laurent,

The crews were at follows:

08.10.44:
Novikov, P.P. JLt (OK)
Shishin, S.D. JSgt (WIA)

10.10.44:
Prokhorov, K.P. JLt (KIA)
Semenov, S.M. SSgt (KIA)

Akimov, V.I. JLt (OK)
Nekushenko, I.N. SSgt (WIA)

25.10.44:
Makarov, M.A. Lt (OK)
Kobykov, N.S. Sen (OK)

26.10.44:
Musatov, N.V. JLt (OK)
Jusov, N.G. Sgt (OK)

27.10.44:
Kasheev, P.E. JLt (KIA)
Faganov, I.F. SSgt (KIA)

Source: Archive of 828 ShAP in TsAMO, Podolzk (ORB and lists of movement of aircraft).

Rune

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thanks a lot again

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Rune one more question about these losses. For the crew you list either KIA, WIA or OK. Does the latter means that the man returned to his unit ? Probably but as Il-2 were active over enemy area I find amazing that none of the survivor was captured...

[Rune Rautio]

Hi Laurent,

You are right that OK means unharmed and returned to own unit.

In these spesific cases the Il-2s were attacking retreating German ground forces and the survivors either force landed on, or bailed out over, own territory.

Rune

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thanks again