I´m interested in sources in English/German or even in Spanish regarding the Baltic Fleet Air Force 71st Fighter Regiment (VVS KBF 71 IAP) during 1940 - 1945, specially on those years when the unit or parts of it was located in Lavansaari (Lavansaar island) in 1941-1943 during the siege of Leningrad.
I have found different fragmented info about this unit mostly in enemy records (Finnish Air Force) and the very basic info I found from here by translating it with rough Google translator: http://www.allaces.ru/cgi-bin/s2.cgi/ss ... /iap71.dat
Does anyone know other better sources - both Soviet/Russian (translated) and German - linked to 71 IAP?
History of Baltic Fleet Air Force 71st Fighter regiment (VVS KBF 71 IAP)?
Re: History of Baltic Fleet Air Force 71st Fighter regiment (VVS KBF 71 IAP)?
A well known aerial photograph of the Lavansaari airfield taken on 26 August 1943 can be found from Hämäläinen's book Pommituslentolaivue 44. The main runway was then around 1200 meters in length. According to the photograph, the airfield was defended at least by eight anti-aircraft batteries. There were at least 40 shelters for the aircrafts. Seven single-engined aircrafts were identified from the photograph.
Re: History of Baltic Fleet Air Force 71st Fighter regiment (VVS KBF 71 IAP)?
The military history of Lavansaari during 1941-1944 would be interesting read as it was the most forward position of Soviet forces of Leningrad during the siege of latter.
Lavansaari was a kind of minituare "Soviet Malta" in the Finnish gulf serving as a base for operations against both Germans and Finns (who both tried to put the base out of action with air attacks). However I do not know any Russian sources being translated in English about the air- and seabase of Lavansaari during the Great Patriotic War. Maybe it has been dealt in some works concerning the history of Soviet Baltic Fleet?
A small detail is that Finns were ready to give up of Lavansaari in negotiations in late autumn 1939 - so it could have been transferred to Soviets even without Winter War. Of all the "buffer zone" and military bases adquired by Soviets around Leningrad and at the Baltic sea during 1940 only Lavansaari remained of these gains to be used as a effective forward base by early 1942. Almost all other territorial gains of Soviet western borderline of 1940 were lost in 1941/42.
Something about Lavansaari elsewhere at this forum:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... &p=1450302
Lavansaari was a kind of minituare "Soviet Malta" in the Finnish gulf serving as a base for operations against both Germans and Finns (who both tried to put the base out of action with air attacks). However I do not know any Russian sources being translated in English about the air- and seabase of Lavansaari during the Great Patriotic War. Maybe it has been dealt in some works concerning the history of Soviet Baltic Fleet?
A small detail is that Finns were ready to give up of Lavansaari in negotiations in late autumn 1939 - so it could have been transferred to Soviets even without Winter War. Of all the "buffer zone" and military bases adquired by Soviets around Leningrad and at the Baltic sea during 1940 only Lavansaari remained of these gains to be used as a effective forward base by early 1942. Almost all other territorial gains of Soviet western borderline of 1940 were lost in 1941/42.
Something about Lavansaari elsewhere at this forum:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... &p=1450302
Re: History of Baltic Fleet Air Force 71st Fighter regiment (VVS KBF 71 IAP)?
Is there database one can study and learn combat reports of VVS KBF and Artic Sea Fleet?
"Military history is nothing but a tissue of fictions and legends, only a form of literary invention; reality counts for very little in such affair."
- Gaston de Pawlowski, Dans les rides du front
- Gaston de Pawlowski, Dans les rides du front
Re: History of Baltic Fleet Air Force 71st Fighter regiment (VVS KBF 71 IAP)?
"Chronicle of the Great Patriotic War on the Baltic Sea and Lake Ladoga":
https://www.prlib.ru/section/1297217
"Chronicle of the Great Patriotic War on the Northern Sea Theatre":
https://www.prlib.ru/section/1297218
Both series are essentially a day-by-day account of activity of the Soviet Navy.
https://www.prlib.ru/section/1297217
"Chronicle of the Great Patriotic War on the Northern Sea Theatre":
https://www.prlib.ru/section/1297218
Both series are essentially a day-by-day account of activity of the Soviet Navy.