Raid to Bukharest on September 14, 1942

[AlexZ]

I will really appreciate if someone send me the information on the raid of Soviet ADD (Aviatsia Dalynego Deystviya) to Bukharest on September 14, 1942. I am interested in particular in the Rumanian Air Defence, Soviet losses, and results of raids.
Thank you beforehand.

[Victor]

Are you sure is 1942? By that time VVS bombers would have had to cross the entire Black Sea in order to get to Romania.

[AlexZ]

QUOTE

Are you sure is 1942? By that time VVS bombers would have had to cross the entire Black Sea in order to get to Romania.

Surely & definitely ,
The flights were performed not through the Black Sea, but the airplanes departed from Central Russia.
The bombing missions were performed from auxiliary airfield at froont line.
Besides Bukharest there were Ploeshti and Galats (sorry if spelling is not right) under attack also.
It is also an interesting to know the position of the Romanian side.

[Dénes]

Rumanian documents of the ARR Headquarters mention the night attack of 6-7 waves of 2-3 four-engine [sic!] airplanes. An oil pipeline of the Steaua Româna oil refinery was set on flames and one locomotive destroyed. There were several deads and injured.
No word on air victories.

[AlexZ]

QUOTE

Rumanian documents of the ARR Headquarters mention the night attack of 6-7 waves of 2-3 four-engine [sic!] airplanes. An oil pipeline of the Steaua Româna oil refinery was set on flames and one locomotive destroyed. There were several deads and injured.   No word on air victories.

Thanks a lot for interesting info. According to the written I realize you speak about Ploeshti. The 4-engine airplanes is too unbeliveable. There were IL-4 bombers only.
And what forces were involved in dealing with attack& AAA only? Or there were night fighters?

[Dénes]

There was no Rumanian night fighter victory, as at that date the build-up of the Rumanian night fighter squadron was only in its infancy.
However, there was an air victory achieved by the Germans, of 11./NJG 6, over a 'DB-3' over the mouth of River Danube. The two Luftwaffe airmen received the Eisernes Kreuz, 2nd Class for their victory.

[AlexZ]

Thanks a lot Denes for the interesting information.
Can you clarify anyth. if DB-3 were shut down on 14th Sept.?
Is there any information on people losses due that attck?
Would you provide any links related to that?

[Dénes]

QUOTE

Thanks a lot Denes for the interesting information. Can you clarify anyth. if DB-3 were shut down on 14th Sept.?

Yes, since the topic is the air activity on the night of Sept. 13/14, 1942, the Luftwaffe crew's victory I referred to was achieved during that night.

QUOTE

Would you provide any links related to that?

There is no (internet) link to the data I gave. As I mentioned, the information comes directly from the war diary of the ARR HQ.

Dénes Bernád

[AlexZ]

[quote]Rumanian documents of the ARR Headquarters mention the night attack of 6-7 waves of 2-3 four-engine [sic!] airplanes. An oil pipeline of the Steaua Româna oil refinery was set on flames and one locomotive destroyed. There were several deads and injured.
No word on air victories.[/quote]
4-engine airplanes probably were of the Soviet AF. Pe-8 from 45-th DBAD.
It is interesting what force Romanian Air Defence have had in the regions of Plaeshti and the Capital - Bucharest.

Alexander

[Dénes]

One should not take the original note "four-engine bombers" as absolutely true, as the meanings to identify enemy bombers at night was rather primitive in 1942. The attackers could very well be two-engine bombers.

The Rumanian air defence around Ploesti and Bucharest was exclusively by various calibre Flak batteries and barrage balloons. As mentioned, in 1942 only the Luftwaffe had an (embryonic) night figter force located in Rumania.

[AlexZ]

[quote]One should not take the original note "four-engine bombers" as absolutely true, as the meanings to identify enemy bombers at night was rather primitive in 1942. The attackers could very well be two-engine bombers.[/quote]

The fact that the attacks were accomplished by 4-engine bombers is exactly trugh. On 14th Sept. in the atack to Bucharest there were Pe-8 bombers also (4-engine). There are notes related to that in the historical reminiscence of those who take part in those attacks.