Air toilers of war

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Sunday forever will remain June 22, 1941 tragic date. The Great Patriotic War divided people on live and fallen, but all of them for ages remained in one system of soldiers of the Homeland. Among them and pilots of the 123rd aviation destructive regiment defending the sky of Kobrin district in the first days of war.

The initial stage of war is lit by numerous editions of book fund of the museum of A.V. Suvorov. Among them there are real rarities with a donative inscription of the author - the colonel general Leonid Mikhaylovich Sandalov, the former chief of a staff of the 4th army. It is the book of memoirs "Endured" from the Military Memoirs series, research under the name "Military Operations of Troops of the 4th Army of the Western Front in an Initial Stage of the Great Patriotic War" of military publishing house Ministries of Defence USSR and the article "On the Brest and Babruysk Direction in the First Days of War" in the magazine of historical archive of Academy of Sciences of the USSR for 1961. Will interest the reader and the data of the Central archive Ministries of Defence USSR made by the research associate of the museum Galina Vasilyevna Pishchik in 1986. These materials were not published before in local editions. They lift the whole layer of history of military aircraft of times of the past war and are of interest not only to professionals, but also to fans of history and local historians.

At sources (on materials of the Central archive Ministries of Defence USSR)

The 123rd destructive aviation regiment is created during the period from March 1 to March 25, 1940 on the basis of flight and technical structure of the 41st, 33rd, 31st destructive and the 14th assault regiments, and also the young flight and technical structure which arrived from aviation schools. Had the 4th squadrons in structure and was structural division of the 58th destructive aviation crew of VOVO with dislocation in Balbasovo's airfield (15 km to the southwest of Orsha). The commander of a regiment is Surin Boris Nikolaevich, the military commissioner - Goldfeld Lazar Ilyich.

On September 22, 1940, on the basis of the order of the commander of the Air Force Western SMD (special military district), a regiment transferred the base on operational airfields of Strigovo, the Name-day (10 km to the north of Kobrin) and was a part of the 10th mixed aviation division.

Since October, 1940 prior to military operations with the German aggressors the regiment carried out the program of combat training and had the general raid of 7600 hours. By the beginning of war in structure of a regiment there were 87 pilots, including the first year of training - 10, second of training - 47, third of training - 30. From them prepared for fighting work in the afternoon - 80, at night - 30, at big heights - 50. The shelf 58 I-153 and 20-YaK-1 planes which were in assembly were armed. The YAK-1 planes differed in big maneuverability and speed good for those times - 572 km/h.

On the eve of war with the German fascists the regiment kept continuous watch a squadron in the main airfield and within one and a half months - on platforms Brest and Lyshchitsa, near state border kept a squadron in an ambush for interception of the German planes which flew on our territory. In the first day of war in unequal fight the commander of a regiment Surin Boris Nikolaevich who carried out four air fights this day died and personally shot down three planes of the opponent.

We find the short summary about rearmament of aircraft and a condition of airfields in L.M. Sandalov's memoirs.

"As a considerable mistake it is necessary to consider a method of rearmament of aviation divisions. New planes for divisions arrived in small lots - "in bulk", and it would be more expedient to reweapon the whole regiments in deep airfields then them to transfer on new airfields in full strength".

"... I on the advice of Chuykov carried out the most part of the next day in an aviation division. I was accompanied by the commander it, the colonel Ni-kolay Georgiyevich Belov. Four regiments of this division were placed so: bombing - in Pinsk, one destructive regiment - near Kobrin, another destructive and a regiment of attack planes - around Pruzhan. Airfields were primitive, without the concreted runways. Pilots waited for replacement of old planes with new. Commanders of regiments in careful tones, but quite persistently paid my attention that in case of war regiments need immediately to transfer the base as the old airfield network to the German command is well-known. Spare field airfields for regiments at us are planned. But are not prepared yet, - as if justifying oneself, the colonel Belov reported..." Caused fear in Sandalov and a condition of troops of air defense.

"From old I went to new Kobrin airfield and found the commander of an aviation division, and also the commander of the region of air defense there.

- As you can see, the runway is almost ready, - the colonel Belov boasted. - In the next few days it will be possible to transfer Surin's regiment here.

- This regiment is lucky: receives both new airfield, and new equipment. And reliable cover, - I noticed, looking towards the commander of the region of air defense. Reaction of the last was absolutely unexpected.

- You know well, - he started talking to undisguised irritation in a voice, - that at me, as well as in troops of the fourth army, antiaircraft parts are in district camp beyond Minsk. Neither a staff of army, nor a staff of the mechanized case, nor aircraft, nor even to cover itself from air around Kobrin I have nothing".

Thus, the condition of aircraft and troops of air defense by the time of invasion of the German fascists left much to be desired and did not meet the developed intense situation.

THAT TERRIBLE DAY ON JUNE 22, 1941

In a pre-dawn haze hundreds of planes of military and air forces of fascist Germany rose in air and headed to border of the Soviet Union. About four o'clock in the morning thousands of bombs fell upon the airfields, staffs, knots of roads, administrative and industrial centers located in the western part of our country. Several hours prior to invasion breath of war was felt also by the commander of the 123rd AIP B. N. Surin.

Extract from the magazine of military operations for June 22, 1941: "At midnight to a regiment, placed in the town of the Name-day, the fighting alarm is declared. The order on dispersal of an equipment and its reduction in combat readiness is received. The flight and technical structure immediately went to planes to execute this order.

At 4:00 it became known that Brest is fired by art fire of the German tools and is exposed to bombing from air. In the same time the regiment was given a fighting task: to cover from air troops of Red Army, the city of Brest, suitable to state border, and Kobrin. Hard fighting work of a regiment also began with 4 o'clock in the morning. Groups of planes from 9 and to a link which leaders generally were Surin, Kikes Alekseev, Savchenko, almost continuously were airborne, came back to the airfield only for filling with fuel and behind units of fire.

From 4:00 till 13:00 pilots of a regiment made tens of fighting departures and air fights with the opponent. About intensity of air fights with Hitlerites it is possible to judge by such example.

At midday the link of pilots under command of the lieutenant Zhidov took off on cover of Brest. For one departure pilots of this link carried out several air fights with bombers of the opponent and the fighters covering them. As a result of these fights the link brought down 2 Yu-88 bombers and 2 fighters Me-109, without having lost any plane.

To only 13:00 pilots of a regiment in air fights 30 planes of the opponent were destroyed. The losses made 9 cars brought down and 18 - damaged. The last were exposed to immediate recovery repair which was often carried out under fire of the planes of the enemy storming airfield".

By the beginning of war in structure of a regiment there were 87 pilots, including the first year of training – 10, second of training – 47, third of training – 30. From them prepared for fighting work in day time - 80, at night – 30, at big heights - 50. The shelf 58 planes 14-153 and 20 - YAK-1, being in assembly were armed.

Memories of military operations of the 123rd AIP in L.M. Sandalov's books are interesting.

"In the first day of war in unequal fight the commander of a regiment Surin Boris Nikolaevich who carried out four air fights this day died and personally shot down three planes of the opponent. He came back to Kobrin airfield hard wounded and died, without going out of the plane. Both in Kobrinskom, and in Pruzhanskom destructive regiments there were about only 10-12 planes.

Approaching Zhabinka, saw how fascist bombers a wave behind a wave at small height directed to Kobrin. Towards to them two small groups of our fighters took off. One of these groups as a part of four I-153 planes ("seagulls") brought down two fascist bombers and safely engaged with enemy fighters.

In fighting history of the 123rd destructive aviaregiment this case is described so: "22.6.41. Four fighters - the captain Mazhayev, lieutenants Zhidov, Ryabtsev and Nazarov - engaged from eight Me-109. The plane of the lieutenant Zhidov was lined and began to descend. Three fascists, seeing an easy mark, began to attack from above it, but the captain Mazhayev, covering a disengagement of the lieutenant Zhidov, a tag machine gun fire struck one "Messerschmitt"; the second fascist was intercepted by the lieutenant Zhidov and set on fire. At the end of fight at the lieutenant Ryabtsev all unit of fire was spent, but Ryabtsev, without reckoning with danger to life, the plane on the opponent led and in collision blow forced it to plummet to earth. In this fight three fascist cars were hit, and from our party one is lost".

Names of heroes of the first day of war are listed in the description of a fighting way of a regiment in fight against the German aggressors.

"Nice names of brave fighter pilots - the commander of a regiment Surin B. N., well-aimed attacks of the destroying opponent, the commissioner of a squadron - the senior political leader Korchagin who was safely driving links in attack, the lieutenant Ryabtsev P.S. – the deputy the commander of a squadron fighting desperately the boss and a ram of the plane of the destroyed fascist fighter, the lieutenant Zavgorodnego, the lieutenant Shulik, the captain Savchenko, the senior political leader Sirotin, the lieutenant Kalabushkin, the lieutenant Zhidov and many others, shown miracles of bravery and boundless devotion to the Homeland this day. These names will become history of the first day of fights as a symbol of courage, courage and heroism".

"By the outcome on June 22 the regiment received the order on a conclusion from under blow of staff and an equipment to the new place of basing - Pinsk. Having shown accurate efficiency, command of a regiment, all staff and serviceable planes transferred on airfield to Pinsk. In the same day 10 crews flew to Babruysk where within 4 days covered airfield knot and the city, conducted investigation and attack of troops of the opponent near the city of Slutsk.

23.06.1941 command of the 123rd IAP was entered by the major Mishchenko Philip Mikhaylovich". Delay in construction of new airfields and a transfer of aircraft on them cost much to the Soviet command. This fact was one of the reasons of a difficult situation of the 4th army in the first days of war. As a result the plane park of aviation divisions of armies and partially aviation connections of district (front) submission was destroyed by the first blows of aircraft of the opponent mainly in airfields.

(Termination. The beginning in No. 44 of June 10, 2009)

The FIGHTING CHRONICLE of the 123rd AIP (on materials of the Central archive Ministries of Defence USSR)

On July 27, 1941 extremely responsible task was set - to study, master and be reweaponed in a short space of time on the new YAK-1 planes. The regiment carried out this task brilliantly. Having transferred the base on Monino's airfield, within 12 days all regiment was retrained on new equipment and included in fighting structure of the 6th air defense destructive aviacase of Moscow. 33 crews of a regiment protected Red Square from raids of fascist aircraft day and night.

On September 27, according to the order of the Rate of General headquarters, the regiment as a part of 2 squadrons (from airfields Mo-nino and Kubinka) is transferred on the Leningrad front and was a part of the 7th air defense destructive aviacase of Leningrad where about 3 squadrons were completed.

In the first of October, 1941. The Council of War of the Leningrad front assigned to a regiment one of the most responsible tasks - cover of the only communication feeding Leningrad and troops of the Leningrad front - the water and ice route through Lake Ladoga and the port of Osinovets. Z time of military operations the opponent of 70 times tried to bomb the protected object, but thanks to dedicated work of pilots only in seven cases single planes managed to break to the region of the purpose and to drop bombs, without having caused damage. For good work of air defense of Lake Ladoga as command it is thanked officially. For the excellent organization of fighting work the commander of a regiment major Mishchenko is awarded by the Order of Lenin, the military commissioner of a regiment Goltfeld an award of the Red Star.

In 7 months of war for the courage and heroism shown in fight against the German fascists 15 pilots were awarded. Besides, 5 pilots, the 4th equipment 4-y the squadrons which remained in Edrovo's airfield are also awarded by awards and medals. Pilots the senior lieutenant Pidtykan and the second lieutenant Vorontsov are recommended for the highest decoration - a rank of the Hero of the Soviet Union.

On November 22, 1942 the regiment is transformed by the order of the commissioner of defense No. 374 from the 123rd AIP to the 27th Guards destructive aviation regiment. By the time of assignment of this rank pilots of a regiment carried out 291 air fights in which 779 ours participated and 1428 planes of the opponent, 153 planes of opponents are shot down. For participation in heroic defense of Leningrad the Decree of Presidium of the Supreme Council of the USSR of December 22, 1942 all staff of a regiment is awarded by the medal "For Defense of Leningrad".

Having entered in new, 1943, a regiment during the period from January to March participated in operations on break of blockade of Leningrad and provided offensive actions of land troops of the Leningrad front. On March 13, 1943 the regiment was handed the Guards banner, accepting which, all staff of a regiment swore an oath to the bitter end to keep honor and glory of the Soviet guard.

On June 9, 1944 operations of troops of the Leningrad front on defeat of the German-Finnish troops on the Karelian Isthmus in which the regiment provided approach of land troops from air began. A peculiar landscape of the Karelian Isthmus does it by exclusively difficult area for military operations. Forests, a huge number of bogs and lakes, rare linear reference points allow to carry out objectives only by excellent navigation preparation and detailed, to trifles, knowledge of the area staff. Pilots of a regiment during operation showed that quite possess these qualities. For the entire period there was no case of loss of the bombers.

To regiment, as caused a stir in fights with the German-Finnish aggressors during break of the line of Mannerheim and mastering the city and fortress Vyborg, the order of the Supreme Commander No. 073 of 02.07.1944 appropriated the name "Vyborg".

27 Guards IAP took part in liberation of the Soviet Estonia, then came back to airfield of the constant place of basing Gatchina where carried out a task of cover of Leningrad and communications on approaches to it. Fighting departures during 1945 were not made since in sector of action of a regiment the opponent did not appear.

Such is a nice way of the fighting regiment which passed in fierce fights with the enemy from the first till last day wars. Success achieved in fights with the artful and cunning enemy is not casual. The great skills, courage, courage, high discipline, organization and dedicated work of all staff brought a regiment into ranks of guard.

In total during the Great Patriotic War from June 22, 1941 to May 9, 1945 by a regiment it is made fighting departures - 7659; on investigation - 274; on attack-160; on cover of land troops - 637; on escort of the planes-1368. It is carried out air fights - 421, brought down planes - 254.

Human destinies, pain and sufferings of the people knowing war not according to textbooks are behind dry statistical data. Having passed through a sheer hell, having paid the unreasonable price own lives, they got for us living today, the right to be people and to see this world in all shades. They - not the victims of war. They, even those who died in its first hours, - her winners. And we are their descendants. It is never impossible to forget about it, as well as about the price paid for the world which got to us in inheritance.

Epilog

Probably, it is interesting to the reader how there was a further biography of the 123rd AIP (the 27th Guards destructive Vyborg aviation regiment) after war. It was succeeded to collect these data thanks to cooperation with Dmitry Aleksandrovich Dyakov - the senior teacher of department of aircraft and the aviation equipment of the Minsk aviation college, the GNU graduate student "Institute of history" of NAN of Belarus. In 1970 the regiment was based on airfield Mr. Pushkin (near Leningrad).

The same year it transferred the base in Average and Asian military district in Uch-Aral (in southeast Kazakhstan, on border with China). Till 1972 the regiment was equipped with planes MiG-19. The part came to direct submission to command of the 10th MAD (the mixed aviation division). In 1971 pilots of a regiment were retrained on planes MiG-21.
In June, 1981 the 27th Guards IAP was directed to fulfill an international duty to Afghanistan as a part of two squadrons and management of a regiment. For a year of stay in WAD DRA awards and medals awarded almost all officers and ensigns of a regiment. The commander of a regiment colonel Victor Sevastyanovich Kot was awarded the highest rank - the Hero of the Soviet Union. The regiment returned home on June 3, 1982.

In March, 1985 the regiment celebrated the 45 anniversary of the basis. Many events for acquaintance with regiment history were held. In the spring of 1989 of 0 the GARDEN which part was and 27-YIAP it was renamed into the Training Aviation Center (TAC). To a regiment the task to prepare all aircrew for instructor work before reception of graduates of aviation schools was set. The problem of execution of alert was removed.

The last flights to a regiment took place on May 20, 1992. Planes were handed over on base of storage on airfield Taldy-Kurgan. Documents and a banner of a regiment were handed over in Podolsk archive of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation.

Elena RYS,
manager. scientific and exposition department
Kobrin military and historical museum of A. V. Suvorov.

The letter of the secretary of the Central Committee of KP(b)B P. Ponomarenko on carrying out the third stage of rail war was sent on June 8, 1944 guerrilla connections of Belarus.

Letter of the secretary of the Central Committee of KP(b)B P. Ponomarenko

The opponent, using calm on the Soviet-German front, strengthened transportations of manpower, equipment across the railroads.

For the purpose of failure of enemy transportations I order:

1. In every way connections to carry out mass destruction of rails by method of rail war.

2. To start preparation of operation immediately, keeping it in the most strict secret.

To strike continuous blows, trying to obtain full failure of transportations of the opponent. I will not give additional instructions, to work independently. To inform on the course of operation immediately.

Rail war - such conditional name was received by operations of the Soviet guerrillas which purpose was a simultaneous mass destruction of railway communications of the enemy and disorganization of military transportations. They were carried out by national avengers on the eve of or during approaches of Red Army on fronts.
Rail war took place in Belarus in three stages. The first began on the night of August 3, 1943 when about 74 thousand guerrillas struck powerful blow to communications of the enemy during counterattack of the Soviet troops near Kursk. It proceeded to the middle of August. The second stage under the conditional name "Concert" was carried out since September 19 prior to the beginning of November, 1943 - to the first period of liberation of Belarus. The final stage was appointed on the eve of the operation "Bagration".

The specific objective was set for guerrillas of Belarus - to blow up 48,1 thousand rails on the most important sites of the railroad. Active preparation began. From the Continent the weapon and ammunition were thrown. To national avengers planes delivered 52 t of tolite, 110,6 thousand m of the bickford and detonating cord, 198,5 thousand caps detonators. Practically all staff of guerrilla formations was trained in blasting business.
From the report of command of guerrilla crew "Security officer" of the Mogilev region on destruction of railway economy on the railroad Moscow-Minsk

On receipt of the order of the lieutenant general Ponomarenko on carrying out a simultaneous raid on the railroad with a problem of destruction of all railway economy - rails, pumping stations, boxes - all groups started operation preparation. Groups were withdrawn from Shklovsky, Tolochinsky, Kruglyansky districts of actions. The site for carrying out operation was taken away for crew on the railroad Minsk-Moscow, a stage of Slavnoye-Trotsilovo. Groups started preparation of staff on blasting business - training in the correct treatment of tolite, caps, a bickford fuse and methods of explosion of rails; each group received a site of the railroad for carrying out operation.

Groups sent after that on office for investigation of the taken-away sites to which the task was set: to reconnoiter system of protection of the railroad, an arrangement of bunkers, garrisons and their numerical structure, to carefully study the district and the most convenient approaches to the railroad. The diversionary groups working at this site were attracted to conducting investigation and obtaining more exact data.

As well as approach on the Belarusian fronts, preparation for this grandiose guerrilla operation took place at respect for the most strict privacy.

BELTA

Lynx, E. Air toilers War / Elena Rys//Kobrynsk_ vesn_k. – 2009. – 10 chervenya, 17 chervenya. Short history of the 123rd of the regiment aviation istrebitelno defending the sky of Kobrin district in the first days of war. 

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