Bombing raids on the night between 1942-07-23 and 24

[StefanSiverud]

I'm looking for any information on bombing raids against Finland that would have taken place on the night between the 23rd and 24th July 1942. One of them appears to have gotten lost and dropped its bomb load near Borgholm, Sweden, and I'm trying to track down which aircraft/crew/unit it was and if they got back.

If anyone could point me in the general direction of sources dealing with any raid on that night I would be grateful. It may have been heading for Germany, but on the off chance it was going to Finland I might as well ask, given my thread in the Soviet section (http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 9&t=206934) proved fruitless.

Thanks!

[peeved]

The only enemy enemy air force action mentioned in the FAF HQ report between 1800 hours 23 July and 0600 hours 24 July 1942 was four I-16s engaged over Someri and Narvi between 1800 and 1900 hours; one I-16 damaged: http://digi.narc.fi/digi/view.ka?kuid=4448086

Markus

[StefanSiverud]

Thank you very much!
At least this means I can cross Finland off as a target, meaning it must have been meant to drop its load over Germany.

[Mangrove]

The only enemy enemy air force action mentioned in the FAF HQ report between 1800 hours 23 July and 0600 hours 24 July 1942 was four I-16s engaged over Someri and Narvi between 1800 and 1900 hours

This war diary contains only the cases where the enemy engaged a target, but not all of the detected flights. However, according to the following war diaries, no Soviet air activity was detected over Southern Finland on the night of the 23rd and 24th of July 1942.

Asikkala
Elimäki
Hartola
Heinola
Helsinki
Kouvola
Lahti
Turku

[StefanSiverud]

Thank you, that confirms it. It must have been one of the raids on East Prussia then.

[Swing]

According to A. Golovanov's memories (Golovanov was commander of Soviet Long-range Air Forces - ADD) there was a raid to Danzig. In Koenigsberg area soviet bombers met a thunderhead, and number of pilots lost orientation. Planes attacked alternative targets, 5 bombers and 2 crews were missed in action. Because of bad weather there was no activity of Baltic Fleet Air Forces (VVS KBF) on this day. The one exception - reconnaissance flights of I-16 fighters in Suursaari - Someri - Tytärsaari area (Chronicle of Great Patriotic war of Soviet Union on Baltic sea and Ladoga lake, vol.3 part 1)

[peeved]

In Kriegstagebuch des OKW, 1942, Teilband I edited by Percy E. Schramm messages received from Luftwaffe general staff during 23.7.42 include the following passage (am no native speaker so will quote the German text):

Der Feind flog in der Nacht zum 24. nach bisherigen Meldungen in den Westraum mit Schwerpunkt Duisburg und in den Ostraum mit Schwerpunkt Memel ein. Nähere Meldungen stehen noch aus.

Couldn't find anything pertinent in 24.7.42 entries but messages received from Luftwaffe general staff during 25.7.42 include the following text possibly relevant to the 23.-24.7.42 attacks:

Im Osten Störangriffe im Raume Gerdauen, Pillau, Memel mit einigen Bombenabwürfen ohne besondere Schadensmeldungen.

Markus

[Swing]

Lost crews during this raid were from 36th Long-range air division (Irretrievable losses list of 36th Division dated 4.8.1942).

[StefanSiverud]

Thanks, this is getting somewhere!

Given the rather gross error in navigation (I would suspect a misaligned compass and/or bad weather being the reason) I doubt the crew would have made it back, at least to their own base. Might there be a list of crews that didn't return properly for that particular raid? What planes (types) participated in the raid etc?

Would having serial numbers from the bomb fragments be of any use? I would assume not, but it doesn't hurt to ask. One fragment weighing 9 kg reportedly bears the inscription 03517, another fragment is to have had "APOV 350 PM 22 42 G" written on it, but I'm not sure if if it's translated into the Latin alphabet or just transcribed from Cyrillic, and it may be misspelt.

Any ideas on where I could turn for more information? Would Tsamo be able to help me?

[Swing]

Would Tsamo be able to help me?

TsAMO is some kind of casket with secret mechanism It is not easy to open it. Unfortunately war diaries are not available online. I guess CF Geust can indicate the only true way to Podolsk for foreigners (TsAMO is situated there).

All 2 regiments of 36th long range air division had Il-4 bombers.

[StefanSiverud]

Thanks for the information! Perhaps I will have to ask Mr Geust for directions...