5 MTAP Attack on Ferdinand 1943

All:

I would greatly appreciate any help to determine
the fate of the crew .

On May 3,1943 few DB-3F's (naval version ) of the
the 5 MTAP of the Black Sea Fleet Air Wing departed
Saki or Karagoz with the target Constanza , in an attempt
to torpedo King Ferdinand while docking at Constanza
harbour after air intelligence revealled that it was undergoing
maintainance overthere and was in "stuck " condition.

The plane piloted by Kapitan ( Captain ) Zaitzev and
his Navigator Stars.Lt.Zimin fell victim to the light
and medium ship based AA defences, rest of the planes
returned with no results achieved.

Various sources indicated that at least the Navigator
and one gunner survived and were POW at Calafat.
Other saying they were all KIA

Help will be appreciated

Al

Hello,

I have here this information from KTB Deutsches Marine-Kommando Konstanza about 3 air attacks on 03.05.1943 on Konstanza.

During the third attack, at 14.45 one aircraft shot down, get down into the sea.
One parachute was seen. Nor the Air-Sea-Rescue aircraft nor a romanian S-Boot had found someone.

In Konstanza there were 3 dead and 11 injured among german troops (Heer, Luftwaffe, Marine). Only damage on buildings and a 3t LKW.

Greetings

Darius

Hello,

Can you point out the source of information you
just mentioned other than Historisches Archiv der
Kriegsmarine Marine ( book, website etc ) ? Does it say
on which part of Constanza the event took place ?

Thanks

Alex

This post has been edited by yugit on December 04, 2011 11:26 am

Hello Alex,

KTB = Kriegstagebuch = War Diary (the original).

1st attack at 13.05:
Row of bombs on destroyer-positions missed. 4 bomb-hits outside the mole in the direction to sea. No damage.

2nd attack at 14.30:
Bomb-explosions, near the casino in part into the water, in part on the beach. 2 dead announced. No military damage. 2 or 3 aircraft, type SB-2 or DB-3.

3rd attack at 14.45:
5 bombs in the lower part of the city, near Ovidplatz. No military damage. Maza-Baracks heavy damage on building & glass. 3 dead, 9 wounded, 1 3to LKW.
1 aircraft shot down, get down on the sea, 1 parachute noticed.
Nor the Air-Sea-Rescue aircraft nor a romanian S-Boot had found someone.

Sorry, no more data.

Greetings

Darius

Hello Darius

Thank you very much for your help. Since I speak
fluent German, can you give me full details on the
mentioned book , hopefully that would enable me
to locate it and buy it at my end overhere in Europe.

I was wondering on what this book is saying
about a 30 OMRAP DB-3F or A-20 series shot
down at Sulina on 30.09.1943 . Was there
a Seenotstaffel 8 involved and were there
any survivors ?

There was a post war investigation on this aircraft
fate led by Russian naval air fleet commanders
who came over to Constanza...that's
why I am asking.

Thank you in advance

Best Regards
Alex K

This post has been edited by yugit on December 04, 2011 09:54 pm

This action was taken agains enemy shipping in Constanta, not directly against Ferdinand. Six Il-4 of 5th GMTAP with bombs and one with camera flew from Gelendzhik (Saki and Karagoz placed in Crimea, which was under German control)/ Two bombers returned due malfunction, others bombed harbor in different waves. Il-4 which was shut down made foto control mission.

30 ORAP never had Il-4 (DB-3F).

Miroslaw

1. I meant DB-3F...of course not IL-4 , was easier to type,I also
know that 30 OMRAP had A-20's and not DB-3F's, pse.read
again my statement..I asked what the book stated about
the aircraft type...I knew it was an A-20 !

2. Are you saying that Zaytzev was on a photo recon mission ?


Alex K

This post has been edited by yugit on December 28, 2011 01:57 pm

1. I don't know that book.
2. Yes.

Miroslaw

The question about the book was addressed to an other
member and not to you, very few people have the
book he mentioned.

Best Regards
Alex

Hello Alex,

all I have for 30.09.1943, 15.00 Uhr, is Konstanza:
A single aircraft came very deep from the north over land, flew over port. Is identified as a Douglas-Boston. Shot down by the ships in the port, mainly Marasti (in the large dock). With out throwing the bombs crashed outside the port into sea. No damage, no losses. Crew was found dead.

Greetings

Darius