Battle of the Estonian islands in 1941.

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Masse
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Battle of the Estonian islands in 1941.

#1

Post by Masse » 28 Jul 2014, 23:09

Hi
I am trying to write down the memories of my father who was born and raised at Vormsi (Ormsö in Swedish) island and expecienced the battle of the islands in 1941. Im trying to find info about a Finnish bomber attacking soviet ships and installations on Hiiumaa (Dagö) from the outbreak of Barbarossa to late July. Im also searching info about the soviet airfield on Saaremaa. How many planes and what models? When did they evacuate? Was there also a airfield on Hiiumaa?
Hope someone can help out on these topics.
All the best
Mats Hammerman

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henryk
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Location: London, Ontario

Re: Battle of the Estonian islands in 1941.

#2

Post by henryk » 29 Jul 2014, 20:00

http://www.forgottenairfields.com/eston ... ]Directory > Estonia > Saare > Kogula
58°18'25"N 022°16'06"E

Runway: 15/33 - ....meters/....feet - unknown

Kogula airfield (Estonian: Kogula lennuväli, german: Flugplatz Kagul, russian: Аэродром Кагул) was an airfield 190 kilometers southwest of Talinn.
The airfield was built before 1941.
In 1941 the airfield was used by bombers of the Soviet Naval Air Force to bomb Berlin, on a mission authorised by Josef Stalin.
In the night of 7-8 August 1941 15 DB-3 bombers of 1 Torpedo Bomber Aviation Regiment (1. MTAP) flew their first 870 kilometer mission to Berlin.
They carried only a few 50-pound incendiary bombs per aircraft though, which outraged Stalin when he found out.
The mission was of no millitary significance, but it was a great propaganda sucess for the Soviets, who were retreating across the front line at the time.
On 8 August Stalin signed Special Order #0265 "On the Promotion of participants bombing of Berlin," which, in addition to his gratitude, announced each crew member 2000 rubles extra pay.
5 of the bomber crews are still remembered as Heros of the Soviet Union during the Great Patriotic War (World War II).
Spurred on by the success of the first mission, the Sovietes launchd 8 more strikes on Berlin.
Of the 86 sorties only 49 succeeded in droping 3,6050 kilos (about 70,000 pounds) of ordnance.
The Germans retaliated on 6 September by attacking the airfield in force.
Only 4 bombers survived the attack.
The airfield remained in use for the duration of the war.

I could not trace when the airfield was closed.
At some point it was ploughed under, but its outlines can still be recognised.
Only parts of the runway remained visible until at least 2004.[/quote]
Hiiu --pending entry of information.


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Juha Tompuri
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Re: Battle of the Estonian islands in 1941.

#3

Post by Juha Tompuri » 30 Jul 2014, 10:12

Hi Masse, and welcome to the Forum.
Masse wrote: Im trying to find info about a Finnish bomber attacking soviet ships and installations on Hiiumaa (Dagö) from the outbreak of Barbarossa to late July.
AFAIK Finnish AF did not bomb Hiiumaa.

Regards, Juha

mars
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Re: Battle of the Estonian islands in 1941.

#4

Post by mars » 30 Jul 2014, 17:07

How could 3,6050 kilos equals to 70,000 pounds ?

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henryk
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Re: Battle of the Estonian islands in 1941.

#5

Post by henryk » 30 Jul 2014, 19:52

Typo. Should read 36,050 kg.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilyushin_DB-3
Payload of DB-3 is 1 000 kg, x 49 =49 000 kg.

Masse
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Re: Battle of the Estonian islands in 1941.

#6

Post by Masse » 30 Jul 2014, 22:17

Many thanks! I found out from other threads that the airfeld was abandoned when Tallinn fell i August 1941. It was built in 1939. I know about the Berlin raids but not what other aeroplains that was based on the airfield. Based on my fathers description it must have been Polikarpov I-16 but it would be great to have it confirmed that that type oexisted on the base. Also what kind of reconissance plane they had.

Masse
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Joined: 05 Jul 2014, 00:17

Re: Battle of the Estonian islands in 1941.

#7

Post by Masse » 30 Jul 2014, 22:30

Thanks also Juha for the reply. Yes the Finnish bomber is a mystery. Yet many people on Vormsi and also Hiiumaa talks about it. It came almost every day for a month until it was damaged in late July 1941. Some estonians said they met the pilot by accident in Helsinki in 1944 so they quite sure about the story. The desrciptions of the plane vary. Some say Stuka but the Finnish airforce didnt have Stukas and some say other kind so its not easy to know. As there was several other german planes involved in the later battle of the island its probable they have it mixed up...

Masse
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Re: Battle of the Estonian islands in 1941.

#8

Post by Masse » 30 Jul 2014, 23:34

If it would have been a german plane it should not arrive from the direction of Finland everyday. At least not in June/July 1941. Or did the germans have planes in Finland?

mirekw
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Re: Battle of the Estonian islands in 1941.

#9

Post by mirekw » 31 Aug 2014, 07:33

Now in Poland was edited my second part of long artilce focused only on Soviet air attacks on Berlin in VIII-IX 1941, "Operacja B - ataki sowieckie na Belin w sierpniu i wrzesniu 1941 roku" "Operetion B. Soviett's Attacks on Berlin in August, September 1941"

The first part was edited in 2011, in: Militaria XX wieku. Wydanie specjalne no 6(22), p.12-19.
http://www.armia24.pl/militaria-xx-w-wy ... peracja-b-

and now, in July 2014 was edited the 2-nd. part in: Militaria XX wieku. wydanie specjalne no 3(37), p. 36-44, abut 20 b&w, plus map, plus 1 table of air attacks.

The first and the last so detailed description of this 9 air attack dane by nave and land aviation, but 100 % Polish, no English.

http://www.armia24.pl/militaria-xx-w-wydanie-specjalne


Regards,
mw
PS
No scans, no pdf.

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John Hilly
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Location: Tampere, Finland, EU

Re: Battle of the Estonian islands in 1941.

#10

Post by John Hilly » 31 Aug 2014, 13:23

Masse wrote:If it would have been a german plane it should not arrive from the direction of Finland everyday. At least not in June/July 1941. Or did the germans have planes in Finland?
Germans had a big depot in Pori. It included also Luftwaffe depot. German bombers used the Pori (Björneborg) airport as a stopover field. Traffic was pretty busy.

With best, J-P :milwink:
"Die Blechtrommel trommelt noch!"

Seppo Koivisto
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Re: Battle of the Estonian islands in 1941.

#11

Post by Seppo Koivisto » 31 Aug 2014, 16:43

I believe Ju 88 aircraft from 1./KGr.806 operated from the Malmi airfield in Helsinki. German planes used also the Utti airfield in southern Finland.
http://www.ww2.dk/air/seefl/kflgr806.htm
http://www.wiki.luftwaffedata.co.uk/wik ... om_Finland
http://jarmonieminen.puheenvuoro.uusisu ... uussa-1944

Arensburger
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Location: Estonia

Re: Battle of the Estonian islands in 1941.

#12

Post by Arensburger » 29 Jan 2015, 00:10


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