Vlassov's Airforce?

[Wars and Empires]

Hello Gentlemen

Recently it was claimed to me that Vlassov's army flew Fw-190Fs from Praha in 1945 and also an Me-262 unit staffed by Vlassov's army was assembled and supposedly trained by this time.

Is this true? Does anyone have any more information on this obscure unit?

[Jakub Tomek]

Only 1 Me 262 were reported in ROA Air Force according to Joachim Hoffmann: Die Geschichte der Wlassow-Armee, German Militärgeschichtlichen Forschungamt, Verlag Rombach Freiburg, ISBN 3-7930-0186-5. On page 118 there is written that 1 Me 262 was part of equipment of 3. recce escadrille (CO Hptm Artemejev). This schould be around February 1945. The all Malcev´s Forces (Malcev was CO of ROA Air Force) were in that day located on Airfield Cheb (Eger) in West Bohemia. What was the fate of this Me 262 is unknown. On March 7 1945 5. Jagdstaffel der ROA begun the transfer on Německý Brod (Deutsch Brod, now Havlíčkův Brod) Airfield in Eastern Bohemia. The first moved parts of Jagdstaffel (no Aufklärungsstaffel) in strength of 2 Bü 181s, 4 Ar 96Bs and 4 Bf 109s. Another Bf 109s followed next days (Janda,Poruba: Messerschmitt Bf 109s of JG 52 in Deutsch Brod, JaPo Publishing House 2004, p. 3).

Ground forces of ROA also claimed several shot downed Me 262 during Prague Uprising when ROA units sieged Kbely Airfield. They are not still confirmed by other sources. When it would be true it could be Me 262 from JG 7, KG (J) 6, KG (J) 51 or KG (J) 54 which created with other units so-called Gefechtsverband Hogeback.

[Jakub Tomek]

As far as I know ROA Air Force did not fly Fw 190. Mentioned Fw 190F which you mentioned are probably those one which bombed Prague on May 8 1945 and belonged to SG 77, in that based in Pardubice Airfiled in eastern Bohemia.

[Wars and Empires]

Thankyou Jakub Tomek, excellent information.

So it appears that the ROA did contain aircraft, though not Fw 190s but Bü 181s, Ar 96Bs, Bf 109s and one Me 262. Would I be correct in assuming that these were flown by Russian pilots? Was this ROA airforce formed on the same date that the ROA was formed?

Was 5. Jagdstaffel of ROA the entire ROA Airforce?

[Jakub Tomek]

This is copy of one post from 12oclockhigh forum. It shows structure of VVS ROA:

Kommandeur der ROA-Luftwaffe: Generalmajor MAL'CEV
Chef des Stabes: Oberst VANJUSIN

Die russische Bezeichnung war:
Voenno-Vozdusnye Sily (VVS)

Deutscherseits wurde sie folgendermaßen bezeichnet:
a.) Luftstreitkräfte des KONR
b.) Luftwaffe der ROA
c.) Luftwaffe der Streitkräfte der Völker Rußlands (SVR)


ROA-Jagdstaffel 5 "Oberst Kazakov":
(1. istrebitel'naja eskadril'ja imeni polkovnika Kazakova)
Staffelkapitän: ehem. Held d. UDSSR Major BYCKOV
16 Me 109 G-10
Verlegte von Eger nach Deutsch-Brod Ende Feb. 1945

ROA-Schlachtstaffel 8:
(2. eskadril'ja bombardirovscikov)
wurde am 28. März 1945:
ROA-Nachtschlachtstaffel 8:
(2. eskadril'ja nocnych bombardirovscikov)
Staffelkapitän: ehem Held d. UDSSR Hauptmann ANTILEVSKIJ
12 Ju 88

ROA-Aufklärungsstaffel 3:
(3. razvedyvatel'naja eskadril'ja)
Staffelkapitän: Hauptmann ARTEM'EV
3 Fi 156
1 Me 262 (!!!!!)

ROA-Transportstaffel 4:
(4. transportnaja eskadril'ja)
Staffelkapitän: Major TARNOVSKIJ
2 Ju 52

ROA-Ausbildungs- & Ergänzungsstaffel:
(5. ucebno-trenirovacnaja eskadril'ja) = (skola letcikov)
Chef d. Lehrstabes: Major TARNOVSKIJ
2 Me 109
2 Ju 88
2 Fi 156
2 U-2
1 He 111
1 Do 17

Auf das Aufstellen einer Kampfeinheit (ROA-Kampfstaffel 11 oder ROA-Kampfschwarm 11) wurde aufgrund Differenzen über den zu verwendenden Flugzeugtyp (He 111 oder Hs 129 oder Fw 190G-3) verzichtet.
Als Verbindungsflugzeuge firmierten die Fi 156 und U-2.

.

[Auseklis]

I still have a ROA-Decal set for a Me 109 G-10 somewhere. And a Revel Me 262 Recce is around in my storage also. Do you knowm anything about the Markings of that aircraft? (Numbers?)

[Jakub Tomek]

Only known painting is based on some snaps of destroyed ROA´s Bf 109s on Havlíčkův Brod (Německý Brod, Deutsch Brod) Airfield and they were published in book of Aleš Janda, Tomáš Poruba: Messerschmitt Bf-109G-10/U4. Production and Operational Service. JaPo Publishing House 2004. Known Tactical Numbers are White 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24. Partially reconstructed Bf 109G-10/U4, WNr. 612762, White 24, Jasta 5 der ROA is painted on page 66. As far as I known it is also only one ROA´s Bf 109 with known WNr. Photos taken after war on Havlíčkův Brod Airfield show Bf 109´s with Numbers 11, 15 and 24. I don´t know anything about Me 262 marking or about marking of other aircrafts. I don´t know anything about others photos of ROA planes.

[Wars and Empires]

Wow, I'm speechless Jakub Tomek. Thankyou!

[Michi]

This is copy of one post from 12oclockhigh forum. It shows structure of VVS ROA:

Kommandeur der ROA-Luftwaffe: Generalmajor MAL'CEV
Chef des Stabes: Oberst VANJUSIN

Die russische Bezeichnung war:
Voenno-Vozdusnye Sily (VVS)

Deutscherseits wurde sie folgendermaßen bezeichnet:
a.) Luftstreitkräfte des KONR
b.) Luftwaffe der ROA
c.) Luftwaffe der Streitkräfte der Völker Rußlands (SVR)


ROA-Jagdstaffel 5 "Oberst Kazakov":
(1. istrebitel'naja eskadril'ja imeni polkovnika Kazakova)
Staffelkapitän: ehem. Held d. UDSSR Major BYCKOV
16 Me 109 G-10
Verlegte von Eger nach Deutsch-Brod Ende Feb. 1945

ROA-Schlachtstaffel 8:
(2. eskadril'ja bombardirovscikov)
wurde am 28. März 1945:
ROA-Nachtschlachtstaffel 8:
(2. eskadril'ja nocnych bombardirovscikov)
Staffelkapitän: ehem Held d. UDSSR Hauptmann ANTILEVSKIJ
12 Ju 88

ROA-Aufklärungsstaffel 3:
(3. razvedyvatel'naja eskadril'ja)
Staffelkapitän: Hauptmann ARTEM'EV
3 Fi 156
1 Me 262 (!!!!!)

ROA-Transportstaffel 4:
(4. transportnaja eskadril'ja)
Staffelkapitän: Major TARNOVSKIJ
2 Ju 52

ROA-Ausbildungs- & Ergänzungsstaffel:
(5. ucebno-trenirovacnaja eskadril'ja) = (skola letcikov)
Chef d. Lehrstabes: Major TARNOVSKIJ
2 Me 109
2 Ju 88
2 Fi 156
2 U-2
1 He 111
1 Do 17

Auf das Aufstellen einer Kampfeinheit (ROA-Kampfstaffel 11 oder ROA-Kampfschwarm 11) wurde aufgrund Differenzen über den zu verwendenden Flugzeugtyp (He 111 oder Hs 129 oder Fw 190G-3) verzichtet.
Als Verbindungsflugzeuge firmierten die Fi 156 und U-2.

Thank you Jakub for reposting one of mine old articles, which I thought it was lost.
I can remember that I have put this article into 3 forums/boards ( 12 o'clock hight; A German Luftwaffe board; and a special Me 262 forum).
Further on I can remember that I got a few hints and answers.
AFAICR, one answer was, only Captain Artem'ev flew this rare bird.
My next question was, why, as I knew that a few former 'Heroes of the Sovijet Union' were in the fighter squadron.
The simple answer was; it had been a recce version.


MfG Michi

[Jakub Tomek]

Just for those who have interest:

Vlasov Army reportedly shot down following Me 262:

May 6 1945
2/KG 51
Lt Schimmel KIA
Shot down over Prague after low level attack on Vlasov troops

May 7 1945
2/KG 51
Oblt. Strothmann KIA
Crashed while attempting to land with one engine after attack on Vlassov troops at Prague - (flew from Prague, crashed at Saaz (Žatec))

May 7 1945
2/KG 51
Uffz. Pohling KIA

May 8 1945
8/KG(J) 6
Ofw. Gapp
Red 7
Belly landed after attacking Vlassov troops at Prague

[Cantankerous]

On page 82 of Frank Joseph's book The Axis Air Forces: Flying in Support of the German Luftwaffe, it is mentioned that Pavel Olejnyk was chosen by Vlassov to command a squadron of Me 262s to defend Berlin from approaching Soviet forces.

[Art]

Ehm, honestly speaking commanding a squadron of flying saucers to defend the Nazi Antarctic base sounds equally realistic.
K. Aleskandrov provides a partial list of officers belonging to the ROA air force, the name Oleynik is not there.

[Orwell1984]

On page 82 of Frank Joseph's book The Axis Air Forces: Flying in Support of the German Luftwaffe, it is mentioned that Pavel Olejnyk was chosen by Vlassov to command a squadron of Me 262s to defend Berlin from approaching Soviet forces.

Anything Frank Joseph writes is to be taken with more than one grain of salt. Unfortunately I purchased one of his books, Mussolini's War, which was a major waste of money, riddled with errors even on the most basic facts.
Then I found out more about the author whose real name is Frank Collin.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Collin

Not a very credible person at all.

[Larry D.]

Orwell1984 wrote in part:

Then I found out more about the author whose real name is Frank Collin.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Collin
Not a very credible person at all.

A real eye-opener! Frank Joseph (née Collin/Cohen/Cohn). Never heard of him before. Whatta doozy! Cantankerous probably wouldn't have bought the book had he known the guy was a pedophile felon and ex-con.

L.