Arkhangelsky Ar-2 at Hanko

[Mangrove]

A Finnish photographer captured this wreckage on film after the capture of the Port of Hanko in 1941. I believe the wreckage is a part of an Arkhangelsky Ar-2. Was this particular plane part of the 73 BAP?

[Esa K]

Was this particular plane part of the 73 BAP[/url]?

Could also be from 2SBAP of 2SAD. At least at 30/6 1941 at Villahti Ltm V. Pyötsiä claimed one Ar-2 wich according to Keskinen & Stenman in Suomen Ilmavoimat III: 1941, was a Ar-2 from 2 SAD.


Best regards

Esa K

[CF Geust]

It is very unlikely that the Ar-2 belonged to 2 SAD, which was part of the Air Force of the Baltic Military District (VVS PribVO).
Firstly, this Air Force was virtually ceased to exist already after the first days of Barbarossa, and secondly Hanko was a NAVAL base (that is not a Red Army base; this from a strictly formal point of view).

Thus all Soviet aircraft based at Hanko (and practically all "visitors" as well) belonged to the Air Force of the Baltic Fleet (VVS KBF). Therefore 73 AP of VVS KBF is in my opinion a rather good guess.

[Esa K]

It is very unlikely that the Ar-2 belonged to 2 SAD, which was part of the Air Force of the Baltic Military District (VVS PribVO).
Firstly, this Air Force was virtually ceased to exist already after the first days of Barbarossa, and secondly Hanko was a NAVAL base (that is not a Red Army base; this from a strictly formal point of view).

Thus all Soviet aircraft based at Hanko (and practically all "visitors" as well) belonged to the Air Force of the Baltic Fleet (VVS KBF). Therefore 73 AP of VVS KBF is in my opinion a rather good guess.

Shall I understand this as that the 2 SAD did not operate at all over Finland in the last week of June 1941, and that the Pyötsiä claim/kill of an Ar-2 from 2 SAD is incorrect? But if its correct, its possible, cause then 2 SAD operated over Finland in late June 1941, that the Ar-2 wreck in Hanko is from that unit in question, cause we dont know when - and even not how - the plane on the photo ended up in Hanko.


Best regards

Esa K

[CF Geust]

Yes, 2 SAD did operate over south-east Finland during the "preventive" Soviet bomber offensive 25-30 June 1941, but not after this interval. No Ar-2s of 2 SAD are known to have entered Hanko airspace during June 1941.

[Esa K]

No Ar-2s of 2 SAD are known to have entered Hanko airspace during June 1941.

OK. Thanks CF Geust for additional info.


Best regards

Esa K

[Juha Tompuri]

A Finnish photographer captured this wreckage on film after the capture of the Port of Hanko in 1941. I believe the wreckage is a part of an Arkhangelsky Ar-2. Was this particular plane part of the 73 BAP?

Mentioned as a German plane wreck at the photo caption, but this too seems to be similar/the same part (+some more) as at the earlier photo: