Soviet 4-motor "American" transport planes in 1941

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Hi
There is such story about Polish communist group send from Viazima on 28 September 1941 to Polish terriroty occupied by Germans.
There were done on Soviet transport plane, which took off from Viazma to Poland. On the board were next person: Nowotka, Turlejski, Skoniecki, Patyński, Aleksandorwicz, Śliwa.
Shortly after take off the plane had crashed and whole secret mission was stopted for next almost 4 months.
During this crash one Polish agent was killed - Turlejski - next 3-4 were Polish were wounded.
The tramsport plane was most probably from "NKWD transport unit". It was not standard military trasport unit but unit responsible for transport Soviet aganets behind enemy- German line
In the Polish memories were given such version that it was 4-engined American transport plane (?).
I think it was rather impossible, Soviet had used for such action rather American DC-3, which they had bougt a few years ago.
Maybe I am wrong (?) and this crashed plane was in fact 4-engined transport plane made in America, bought before the war too.

In this case I do not think about Soviet TB-3 or his civil version. It was quite long route and TB-3 was too slow for such night operation.

Maybe someone can help in this case
Regards
Mirek W

[yogybär]

On that day 28.09.41, there was no total loss of a Pe-8, so you can take out this option.

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Thanks for the info, I have excluded a TB-7 (later Pe-8), from my view, but it also ould be (?).
In this time if I am right this version had yet the Disel engines, which were not so realible (fatal fligh towards Berlin and high losses). Anyway his capacity could be good + speed too for such route.
It was long distance flight, Soviet crew had to flown over a few points in this night. The accident had made it impossible.

I will check then TB-7/Pe-8 option

Thanks for this info again, :-)

MirekW

[yogybär]

As I said: There was NO total loss of a Pe-8 on that day, but maybe a crashlanding after which teh plane could be repaired.

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Yes, I do not say about this crash as total lost. It was accident, which not destroyed the plane. During this event one Polish had been killed + 3-4 (depends of source) were wounded.
So it could be "heavy landing". The plane was not destroyed, maybe mirror damages or so.

Regards,
MirekW