Two victories of Gen. Zakharov of 43. IAD over Minsk on June 22, 1941

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Lieutenant General G.H. Zakharov, commander of the 43rd IAD PWO, reported two victories over "Ju 88" around late noon (or before night) on 22 June 1941.
These aircrafts were shot down over Minsk. One had a fall on the Opera House and the other was set on fire. It is very strange that, according to a list of Luftwaffe losses, she has not lost in this region any bombers. How much you believe in these reports (memories) Zakharov?

I have considerable doubts as to its credibility because of his memoirs, published in Moscow in 1985, is talking a lot of false information about the events of June 22, 1941.

Regards
mirekw

And below part of his memories in Russia (1985, p. 119):

Низко ходили большие двухмоторные машины. Я видел их, подлетая, но мне и в голову не могло прийти, что это "юнкерсы"! Они ходили на малых высотах и прицельно швыряли бомбы на отдельные здания. Вражеских истребителей в небе не было. Подвергая город в течение дня непрерывной бомбардировке, превратив аэродром в жаровню, "юнкерсы" под вечер чувствовали себя в полной безопасности.
Я находился выше их, прямо над центром города, когда увидел один Ю-88 над крышей штаба округа. Раздумывать долго не стал — спикировал, пристроился фашисту в хвост и в упор дал длинную очередь. "Юнкерс" не загорелся, но резко накренился и упал. Упал он в районе оперного театра. Над окраиной города я атаковал другой и зажег его. Он уходил, дымя, но, я думаю, не вытянул: как и у первого, у него был слишком мал запас высоты. А мой истребитель поглощал последние капли горючего. Времени, чтобы сесть на нужный мне аэродром, уже не хватало. Пришлось садиться на площадке в Лощице, где все горело.

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

I have just found his memories in English, :-)

'Large twin-engined aircraft were flying over Minsk it low altitude.
As I approached them I had no idea that they were Ju 88s. They just kept on flying, and bombed their selected target buildings. There were
no enemy fighters anywhere around. After the continuous day-long
waves of bombing raids on the city, and having reduced the local airfield
to ashes, the Junkers pilots obviously felt completely safe by the evening.
'I was far above them when I saw one approaching the district HQ
building in the central city area. I made a diving approach behind it and
fired several long bursts of machine gun fire, but the Ju 88 refused to burn - it just banked away and crashed near Minsk's opera house. I then
followed the other enemy bomber over the city and set him on fire. He left the area trailing smoke. I couldn't wait ro see him crash, but I'm sure the Ju88 couldn't survive. Just like his comrade, he was at very low altitude.'

[oquaig]

Hello Mirek

The only Luftwaffe units with Luftflotte 2 with Ju 88 Bombers was Stab. I, and II KG. 3. Some of Luftflotte 2 recon units had Ju88 D. I wonder if anyone knows of losses specific to Stab. I, and II KG. 3 ?

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Knowing the lost list of Luftwaffe, I can not find any loss over Minsk.
Many times pilots had make a lot mistakes in identyfication, Zacharov could "claimed" a Ju 88 or Do 17 Z or He 111 as well, if he in fact did it?

Minsk was quite far away from main bombing area of LW's units. It was not so important target to send any big bomber force, reccon plane would be better?

Frankly speaking I do not belive in his 2 claims on 22.06.41, but may be I am wrong?

Regards,
mw

[Owl-99]

There are no any confirmations of Zakharov's victories during the GPW in soviet archive documents, so what the problem? All memories in all times are no more then folk history, only slightly based on real facts.

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

For me it is no problem, but sometimes I have see such "credible" information on some www sides, and I am surprised too. Because it is hard to me belive in such memories, but I would like to confirm it too. Zakharov was a real fighter and commander of 43. IAD PWO, it could also have some real victories (like on 22.06.41)? Maybe I am wrong?

There are many books edited years ago, which treating it as VERY credible sources too!

Regards,
mirekw

[oquaig]

I was reading in Solonin's second book "another chronology of the disaster 1941" about 43rd IAD. He says the Division was mostly covering airfields on the afternoon of 22 June and does not mention any encounters with the Luftwaffe. But in Michail Timin's article on Bobruisk airfield ( http://aircraft-museum.ucoz.ru/publ/..._1941/3-1-0-60 ) in it he mentions an air raid by the Luftwaffe. But there was no damage, so it must of been small. I speculate it was long range reconnaissance searching in depth for new air bases. If there were Luftwaffe sorties over Minsk they were most likely reconnaissance as well. But the 162 IAP (43 IAD) was at Baranovichi and there was a large collection of aircraft from 9 and 10 SAD there in the afternoon...Did the luftwaffe strike that airfield in strength on 22 June ? And if so, who?

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

German bombers had attacked in small formation, even one plane on 22.06.41, so this is not so strange. Attack done by 2 or 3 bombers were also conducted then and later.

Longe reccon planes had done most important job as was reccon, so the bomb run on airfild were not their main objective, to much risk.

Near Minsk were 2 regimenst after 12.00 o'clock. Baranovichi was also important place to defend as a place for second, field Western Front headquater, where it was planed in spring 1941. I do not belive, that it was know for German.

Bobrujsk was attacked as a large airfiled by normal LW's units in my opinion. I do not know which one too?

Regards,
mw

PS
LW's bomber force was to small to cover hundreds of Soviet airfiled in one time. They had divided own forces on small units (1-3 planes) and attacked Soviet airfield even such force. The main obective was not destruction but making panic amon Soviet. And they had succeded in this job.