ARR over the Kuban?

[yogy]

I never heard about that... but it lokks like they were there:

http://www.worldwar2.ro/arr/?article=675

Who has more infos about thgis ARR campaign?
OOB, tasks, etc ?

[D13-th_Mytzu]

I have something.. going to get me books

[D13-th_Mytzu]

From Gr. 3 Picaj book:

Grupul 3's Airfields:
End of March 1943: Nikolaev (training)
16 June 1943: Mariupol North
4 July 1943: Bagerovo (Kersch 6)
1st October 1943: Rykowo

Chapter XIV (Conclusions):
In his book, Mark Axworthy writes: "Grup 3 Picaj was transfered on 6 july to the Kersch Peninsula, where it remained for several month as the only Axis bomber unit available to support the German and Romanian divisions in the Kuban Bridgehead. It broke up several Soviet ground attacks (...), earning commendations from the German 97. Division, 1. Fliegerkorps and 17. Armee. It also laid mines off the coast and strafed Soviet gunboats."


Chapter III:
On July arrives the official (and written) order for the move. The new airbase will be airfield number 6 of Kersch (= Bagerovo). All available planes and crews must be transfered asap while fifty mechanics are required to follow the unit (German mechanics could compensate for the extra work). [...]
The following day, around fourty-five Romanian mechanics board the six Ju52 [...] They fly to Bagerovo where land too: seven planes of Esc. 73, under the command of Lt.Tudor Andrei, nine planes of Esc. 85 led by Cpt. Ioan Prislopeanu and an unkown number of planes (but persumably eight) of Esc. 81 under the command of Slt. Mircea Badulescu.


From 10th to 14th July 1943:
The pages of Grupul 3's war diary are lost for the day of 10 june. But reports of Romanian HQ mention that twenty-one Ju87s operated that day against artilery positions at Kripskaja and Wessjolyi.


PS: the book is published by Editura Modelsim and its authors are jean-Louis Roba and Cristian Craciunoiu (who is sometimes activ on this forum). I also think you might be able to order the book online (http://www.modelism.ro/aviation_books.htm , on the second page).

This post has been edited by D13-th_Mytzu on April 07, 2006 01:08 pm