VVS Airfields Near Novgorod/Leningrad

[perdweeb]

I am doing some research on the VVS in the Northern sectors throughout the Great Patriotic War. I am specifically having trouble finding airfields that were in use by the Soviets in the Novgorod, Leningrad, Tver, and Pskov Oblasts. Quite frankly, I do not even know where to look for this information. If anyone could point me in the right direction, I would be much obliged.

Cheers.

[Larry D.]

There were hundreds of VVS main airfields, field airstrips, landing grounds and emergency landing grounds "throughout the Great Patriotic War", 22 June 1941 - 8 May 1945, in the rather large geographic expanse you described. You will find nothing in English covering this. But there is in German that's based on wartime German intelligence sources and therefore incomplete and somewhat inaccurate at best. To see that, you will have to fly to WashDC and go to the Library of Congress Map Room and ask for OKL Flugplatzatlas d. Sowjetunion. It's about 600 pages and measures about 30" x 24" - in other words, it's huge. I'm guessing it probably weighs 40 lbs. Your second option would be to hire a Russian researcher to go to TsAMO in Podolsk and see what he can find. Either way, it's going to cost you some money.

L.

[Art]

A map from July 1941:
https://pamyat-naroda.ru/documents/view/?id=101227502
A large list also from July 1941:
https://pamyat-naroda.ru/documents/view/?id=114806484
I'm agree that complete numbers including field-type airfields and landings strips would be about hundreds.

[Larry D.]

Thank you, Art!

L.

[GregSingh]

Some of those small field-type airfields actually played an important role in particular operations, but they were in use quite often for 1-3 months only and abandoned. You can find names/locations for many of those by Googling in Russian, eg. several airfields for Leningrad area are mentioned here: Аэродромы Ленинградского аэроузла 1941-1945

[Art]

A large list also from July 1941:
https://pamyat-naroda.ru/documents/view/?id=114806484

Airfields of the Leningrad Military District/North Front from this document

I. Airfields available on 22.6.41:
A. Permanent (basis) airfiels:
1/ Completed airfields – 11
2/ Airfields under construction (ready for operations) -5
3/ Completed airfields with runways under construction – 14
4/ Airfields and runways under construction – 7
B. Operative aifields
1/ Completed -58
2/ Nearly completed – 10
3/ Under construction – 29
II. Construction after the war start
1/ Completed construction started before the war – 14
2/ Construction suspended – 5
3/ Construction of opearative airfields started during the war – 84
(Incl. by the Leningrad Oblast’ NKVD – 16, Vologda Oblast’ NKVD and Agricultural Aviation Trest – 9)
Of them completed – 45
By regions:
1. Ustyuzhna-Cherepovets-Belozersk - 9
2. Lodeynoye Pole – Onega Lake – 7
3. Khvoynaya-Efimovskaya – 8
4. Borovichi – 2
5. Tikhvin – 2
6. Volkhovstroy – 9
7. Chudovo – Malaya Vishera
8. Krestetskiy – 2
9. Krasnogvardeyskiy – 2
Will be completed by 2.8.41 -27 airfields

Construction of further 46 airfields is planned

Permanent airfields:
1/ Completed
1. Keksholm (Kakisalmi)
2. Maisniemi
3. Commandant
4. Siverskaya
5. Ropsha
6. Grivochki
7. Verkhnaya Prikhon’
8. Korostovichi
9. Smychkovo
10. Straya Russa
11. Yedrovo

2/ Fields under construction (ready for operation):
1. Shonguy
2. Afrikanda
3. Sortavala
4. Boboshino
5. Levashovo

3/ Runways under construction
1. Murmashi
2. Poduzhemie
3. Bessovets
4. Suurmerijoki
5. Kasimovo
6. Nevskaya Dubrovka
7. Gorelovo
8. Pushkin
9. Gatchnina
10. Smuravievo
11. Kresty
12. Soltsy
13. Kreschevtsy
14. Uglovo

4/Fields and runways under construction (suspended)
1. Zapadnaya Litza
2. Teriberka
3. Iokon’ga
4. Ponoy
5. Monchegorks
6. Vidlitza
7. Kaskolovka

Operative airfields
I. Completed
1. Ready
1. Ura-Guba
2. Kis-Kis
3. Ukhta-Kerkies
4. Kudoma-Guba
5. Girvas
6. Niva
7. Nurmalitsy
8. Alhvola
9. Sakkola
10. Heinjoki
11. Jappila
12. Bolshoye Manuschkino
13. Shugozero
14. Shum
15. Lezya
16. Zaytsevo
17. Vitino
18. Torosovo
19. Sumsk
20. Spasskaya Polist’
21. Vyskatka
22. Bolshiye Ovsischi
23. Chernevo
24. Bolshaya Zhelcha
25. Zarudinye
26. Veihmanen
27. Utychie
28. Teplyakovo
29. Vastsy
30. Karamyshevo
31. Korovye Selo
32. Rozhkopolye
33. Khalevo
34. Veretye
35. Berdovo
36. Yershi
37. Veretenye
38. Dedovichi
39. Zaklinskie Gory
40. Gavrovo
41. Doborets
42. Reblitsy
43. Gorodets
44. Toroshkevichi
45. Spasskya Polist’
46. Novoselitsy
47. Viny
48. Krestzy
49. Volgino
50. Tuleblya
51. Ivonovskaya
52. Poddorye
53. Mury
54. Ilyina Niva
55. Glebovschina
56. Makarovo
57. Shlina
58. Domoslavlya

II. Nearly completed
1.Starina
2. Malitino
3. Khutyn’
4. M. Verigino
5. Novo Mikhaylovskaya
6. Torma
7. Lodeynoye Pole
8. Gorskaya
9. Sivoritsy
10. Loukhi

III. Under construction
1. Alakurti
2. Louhi
3. Mikkola
4. Tikshozero
5. Povenets
6. Koresurya
7. Janikkaniemi
8. Huhtulampi
9. Elisenvaara
10. Humalainen
11. Neinjoki
12. Humaljoki
13. Punus
14. Moiniemi
15. Lehti-Metsya
16. Mustolovo
17. Krasnyi Bor
18. Lisino
19. Makslahti
20. Ollila
21. Yamki
22. Buyanitsy
23. Begunitsy
24. Kaskovo
25. Zakhonye
26. Kryakovo
27. Rabitsy
28. Skvoritsy
29. Daimische

Construction of airfields after the war start:
I. Completed construction started before the war:
1. Khutyn’
2. Maloye Verigino
3. Novo Mikhailovskaya
4. Torma
5. Lodeynoye Pole
6. Lisino
7. Makslahti
8. Elisenvaara
9. Kyuresyria
10. Louhi

II. Built during the war:
1. Punus
2. Olenya
3. Kirovsk
4. Kitsa
5. Povenets
6. Ladva
7. Segezha
8. Yeroshkina Sel’ga
9. Rail platform Louhi 13 km
10. Louhi rail station
11. Sapuha
12. Suojarvi
13. 1st Letnyaya
14. Petya-Jarvi
15. Kamenka
16. Vystav
17. Kipuya
18. Plekhanovo
19. Putilovo
20. Morozovo
21. Khandrovo
22. Troitskaya
23. Vyachkovo
24. Sarozha
25. Zalyuschik
26. Bolshoy Dvor
27. Shishenets
28. Padolga
29. Zhiloy Dvor
30. Ostakhnovo
31. Narotovo
32. Venyapolovo
33. Urodov Ostrov
34. Krasnitsy
35. Dubrovo
36. Porog
37. Myslovo
38. Dubrovo
39. Serebryanitsy
40. Kolomenka
41. Perekhod
42. Priluki
43. Malaya Vishera
44. Gremyachevo
45. Dubrova
46. Zhernovka
47. Sherebut’
48. Okulovka
49. Kolomenka
50. Antropshino
51. Kipen’
52. Zhary
53. Tosno
54. Voskresenkoye

Leningrad Oblast’ NKVD
1. Gorodna
2. Podluzhie
3. Yakhnovo
4. Dvorische
5. Pestovo
6. Makariyno
7. Brikunovo
8. Padun
9. Velikoye Selo
10. Podborovye
11. Posad
12. Muromlya
13. Novo Vodlitsa
14. Devyatino
15. Vytegra
16. Platform 11 km
17. Shamoksha

Vologda Oblast’ NKVD
1. Belozersk
2. Kirillov
3. Batovo
4. Manturivo
5. Irdomatka
6. V. Dvor
7. Lyubytovo
8. Voronovo
9. Ustyzhna

A really huge list, worth to point out that airfields of the North and Baltic Fleets are not included.

[GregSingh]

Thanks Art.
It's going to be fun to locate these on maps!

[Art]

I've made some processing of the original July 41 map



Symbols:
star - basis (permanent airfields)
rec circle with a white rim - operative airfields
red circle - completed field-type airfields
white circle - airfields under construction
black circles - airfields completed in 22-28 July

I've noticed that there are some airfields not mentioned in the list above, don't have time to sort it out.

[Art]

For comparison location of the Leningrad Districts' air force in June 1941:

1 Division:
HQ - Murmansk
137 Bomber Regiment - Afrikanda
10 Bomber Regiment - Siverskaya
145 Fighter Regiment - Shangui (Shongui)
147 Fighter Regiment - Murmashi, Shangui, Afrikanda

2 Division:
HQ - Starya Russa
44 Bomber Regiment - Staraya Russa
2 Bomber Regiment - N. Mikhailovskaya, Krestzy
58 Bomber Regiment - Staray Russa
65 Ground-Attack Regiment - Grivochki

5 Division
HQ - Vyborg
7 Fighter Regiment - Suurmerijoki, Maisniemi
159 Fighter Regiment - Grivochki
158 Fighter Regiment - Pskov, Veretenye

39 Division
HQ - Pushkin
154 Fighter Regiment - Pushkin, Zaitsevo
155 Fighter Regiment - Pushkin, Gorodets
156 Fighter Regiment - Pushkin, Lezyia

41 Division
HQ - Krasnogvardeysk
201 Bomber Regiment - Krasnogvardeysk, Sivoritsy
202 Bomber Regiment - Kaskolovka, Kerstovo
205 Bomber Regiment - Siverskaya

55 Division
HQ - Petrozavodsk
72 Bomber Regiment - Bessovets, Staraya Russa
153 Fighter Regiment - Keksholm

54 Division
HQ - Levashovo
26 Fighter Regiment - Uglovo, Manushkino
157 Fighter Regiment - Levashovo

311 Reconnaissance Regiment - Siverskaya, Veihmanen, Leningrad

1 Aviation Corps (under Supreme Command's control)
40 Division
HQ - Krechevitsy
53 Long-Range Bomber Regiment - Krechevitsy
200 Long-Range Bomber Regiment - Krechevitsy
7 Heavy Bomber Regiment - Soltsy

51 Division
HQ - Yedrovo
7 Long-Range Bomber Regiment - Yedrovo
203 Long-Range Bomber Regiment - Yedrovo
204 Long-Range Bomber Regiment - Yedrovo

I can't find Grivochki airfield on the map, it must be located near Dno.
Soltsy is called "Roltsy" on the map.

[Larry D.]

Art -

Dno-Griwotschki (RUSS) (ZNr. 10-0064) (c. 57 47 00 N – 29 57 59 E)
General: airfield (Fliegerhorst) in NW Russia 94 km E Pskov and 4.5 km S of Dno. Rated for bombers. History: prewar Soviet airfield. Dimensions: approx. 1450 x 1600 meters (1585 x 1750 yards). Surface and Runways: natural surface with a permanent runway of approx. 1400 meters in length (probably paved or at least hardened) and aligned WNW/ESE, plus a large network of paved or rolled taxiways. Fuel and Ammunition: both stocked. Infrastructure: had 12 hangars fronted by large paved aprons, 4 workshop areas, 7 barrack compounds, numerous service, support and admin. Buildings, all grouped together along the S boundary of the airfield. Dispersal: there were 47 large aircraft blast bays by 1943.
Remarks:
Jun 41: Soviet 159 IAP, 65 ShAP, and possibly elements of 39 IAD.
18 Jul 41: Dno occupied by German troops.

L.

[Art]

Some more maps:
Airfields used by the North-West Front, January 1942:
https://pamyat-naroda.ru/documents/view/?id=111382746
Airfields of the Karelian Front, North Fleet and Arkhangelsk Military District, October 1942:
https://pamyat-naroda.ru/documents/view/?id=238968232
Soviet and Finnish airfields in the Ladoga-Onega Lake area, June 1944:
https://pamyat-naroda.ru/documents/view/?id=454128309

Also a list of 90 airfields of the Leningrad Military District, June 1941:
https://pamyat-naroda.ru/documents/view/?id=454128309

[CF Geust]

Art,
the references for third and fourth item above are identical!

[Art]

Sorry, correct link:
https://pamyat-naroda.ru/documents/view/?id=114796753

[perdweeb]

Wow, Art. You rock, now I can get to work! Thank you very much.

[Larry D.]

Hi Art,

If you ever find a typed list like the one you provided in Post #6 above that covers VVS permanent and operational airfields for the rest of the USSR for summer 1941 (June, July, August), I would certainly appreciate knowing about it. I have them for the Baltic States (thanks to Mikhail Timin) but need then for western Russia, i.e., the following military districts:

Belorussian MD
Kharkov MD
Kiev MD
Lvov MD
Moscow MD
North Caucasus MD
Odessa MD
Orel MD
Stalingrad MD
Transcaucasus MD
Vo1ga MD

Ant help would be great!

Larry de Zeng