Esa K wrote:The one truly looking for references about topic, heres a good start: Keskinen, Kalevi; Stenman, Kari: Suomen ilmavoimien historia. 19, LeR 4 : lentolaivue 42, lentolaivue 44, lentolaivue 46, lentolaivue 48. Espoo 2002. Pages 81-87.
In case someone should not find the said opus in their local public library, or should be linguistically challenged, here is an account at the air raids against Soviet airfields on the night of 9/10 March 1944:
Air bases at Leningrad
'In February (1944) ADD, the Soviet long range bomber force, carried out three large raids at Helsinki in the nights of 5/6, 15/16, 25/26. The bombers were operating from the bases around Leningrad, where the Finnish aerial recce had spotted dozens of a/c in each. The airstrips were totally illuminated during take-off and landing operations which made a good bombing target. N On 26. February the FAF CO initially ordered PLeLv 42 and 46 to raid these enemy air bases when there was an opportunity. To distract the enemy they were to join the enemy formations returning from a raid to Helsinki.
PleLv46 was the first one to try the new tactics. On 29 Feb in the evening four a/c took off (DN-51, -57, -52, -59) took off with intervals. Over the gulf of Finland the DN s infiltrated in the returning formations of Soviet bombers and followed them to Levashovo. At 22.25-23.10hrs the fully lit airfield where several a/c were landing, was bombed. The bomb series hit rows of a/c and hangars. Several fires were started and there was a large explosion. AA fire was opened not until the (Finnish) a/c were leaving.
On 2. March (1944) attack against Leningrad a/b s was ordered for all squadrons. On 9.March there was another opportunity. ADD d/c were returning from a raid to Tallinn as Finnish a/c joined the enemy formations.
PLeLv42 was tailing the Russians N of Seiskari with five a/C (BL-167, 169, 151, 168, 187) to Gorskaya. Report: “ Bombed Gorskaya with four a/c from 1200m altitude at 21.30-21.32hrs. Bombs included 23x50kg, 16x15kg incendiary and 92x2kg incendiary. Hits in the a/c dugouts and rows of a/c on the S and SW perimeter of the base. BL-187 raided Levashovo at 21.34hrs. Bombs 8x50kg, 4x15kg incendiary and 24x2kg incendiary. Hits in a row of a/c on the W perimeter of the base. Two a/c were burning on the airstrip, a huge explosion in the N perimeter, thick smoke and fire that was visible up to 70km. The raid was a total surprise.”
PLeLv 44 joined an enemy formation W of Kronstadt with five a/c led by Capt. Itävuori (JK-255, 252, 262, 267, 270) and ended up above a/b Kasimovo. “Bombed Kasimovo from 1600m altitude at 21.30-21.35hrs. Bombs 16x250kg and 47x50kg. Hits on the runways and rows of a/c. One large explosion and two fires were observed immediately. When leaving the target one strong explosion and several fires were observed. One a/c bombed Gorskaya at 21.35hrs but due to strong AA fire could no)t confirm hits. Two large and six smaller fires in the a/b. The raid was a total surprise.”
PLeLv46 joined an enemy formation also W of Kronstadt led by Capt. Pesola with five a/c (DN-59, 52, 58, 57, 51), bearing to Levashovo. “ At 21.34hrs Levashovo was bombed with four a/c. Bombs 80x50kg, altitude 1400m. Hits on the runway and in the immediate vicinity of rows of a/c. DN-57 missed the target because the bombs had to be released with the backup system. DN-59 bombed Kasimovo (20x50kg) where two fires were generated, one of which resulted in a strong explosion. AA fire was heavy during the overflight”.
PLeLv 48 followed the Russians from Kronstadt with four a/c led by Capt. Hakala (BL-186, 190, 165, 183) to Levashovo. “At 21.37hrs one a/c bombed Levashovo. Three a/c bombed at 21.40-21.45hrs Gorskaya, being the only illuminated a/b. Bombs 28x100kg and 16x15kg incendiary. Hits on the N perimeter of the a/b where five a/c were burning, on the SE perimeter two a/c were burning and a storage blew up”.
The next day a PLeLv48 a/c photographed the a/bs. It was PE-211, flown by Staff Sgt. Juhola, observer Lt Koskinen and gunner Sr. Sgt. Laine. Mission report states:
“Photographed at 11.35-11.40hrs a/b Kasimovo, Levashovo, Shuvalovo, Gorskaya, altitude 6500 to 6000m. Visual recce observations: Kasimovo a/b, several bomb holes on the SW perimeter; Levashovo a/b bomb holes on the N perimeter, in the terrain E of the runways the holes of a long series of bombs. At 11.45hrs when returning in 4000m altitude spotted tracers flying below an escorting MT. At the same moment I spotted two Yak-9s behind the MT about 800m to the sun. At the same time several puffs of smoke appeared between us and the MT, resembling 40mm AA shell puffs. The MT turned at the enemy fighters whereby they disengaged by diving below us.”
