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Aviation History
1942
1942 - 1137.PDF
MAY 28TH, 1942 FLIGHT 333 Two Russian PE2 low-wing, twin-engined medium bombers. The PE2 carries a crew of three or four and the bomb aimer's position is on the floor of the nose. A bomb load of 1,700 lb. is stowed internally. Top speed is believed to be slightly over 300 m.p.h. AIR FIGHTING IN RUSSIA The Russian Recovery : Soviet Air Force Takes the Initiative Luftwaffe : The Effect of Winter The Ice-bound By V. L. GRUBERG THE thawing weather must have come as a welcome relief to the snowbound, frozen and immobilised Nazi forces. For the past winter has been a period of privations and disaster, reverses and losses, not experi enced before by the Luftwaffe, and so much more acute because unforeseen in the scheduled time-table of the German war machine. Since one chapter of the strife is closed, it seems appro priate at this juncture to sketch a picture of the <develop- ments and conditions which have marked the period of operations prior to the opening up of the new phase of the campaign. After the initial blows delivered by the Luftwaffe in the opening stages of their aggression against Russia, the Ger mans announced that the Soviet Air Force ceased to exist. But far from being dead, Russia's Air Force merely staggered under the heavy blows received, and not only picked itself up, but was soon capable of inflicting heavy punishment upon the enemy. ^molttisK ^Otsk •KhatKo- U KRAI /v/B; > G itr,,, ; ^ ' a% 0*i> WU£S KoitaL . As(raAf,or CASUS The area covered by the final battles of the winter campaign This quick recovery could not have been achieved but for the deep, substantia] air resources on which the Red Air Force could continually draw. Two factors have con siderably contributed towards this phenomenal recovery, namely, the rapid removal of the industrial plants into the strategically safe area, and the quick and efficient reorganisation of the migrated industry. That this gigantic task was so smoothly completed hi in itself a bril liant feat of planning. For the difficulties involved must have been tremendous. In no mean manner have the Soviet Air Forces been assisted by the supplies reaching them from their Allies, and the exchange of such technical knowledge and experience as must have been arranged between them. Operations and Weather In reviewing the past stages of the air fighting in Russia, one must not overlook the all-important fact that the Germans had the initiative. The clement of surprise, the liberty of selecting worthwhile objec tives, are those powerful allies of an air force which is in the offensive. The Luftwaffe certainly made good use of them, and up to the' end of August, 1941, had rendered invaluable service to the advancing German Forces. During this period the Germans con stantly employed the air arm in attacks on Soviet communication lines and supply centres. The idea behind these operations was to prevent the mobilisation of the Russian forces and thus reduce their mobility. In the vast spaces with but a modest net of communications, the attacks on the permanent way were certainly of great help to the advance of the German forces. As in previous campaigns of the Wehrmacht, the ground forces were given full air support, and, indeed, all operations have been closely linked up with the intensive employment of the air arm in all r'"/1., N
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