I was doing some investigation on WW2 fighter escorts when I came across a small amount of information.
During late 1943 through the first of 1944 US bombers had many tactics to relieve the stress of the Luftwaffe’s fighters. One tactic was to have one group of bombers fly from England and back while another group would fly from England deep into Germany and then on to the Soviet Union or, to turn south to North Africa or later to Italy. During this time period fighter esorts were the P-47’s, Spitfire Mk.5’s, etc..
I read of some raids in which were launched from bases in the Soviet Union to hit targets in the Balkans (Ploesti, etc.) and return to the Soviet Union! Their fighter escort was Yak-9 fighters. Does anybody have any information on this effort of the war??
Adrian
By: Steve T - 4th August 2004 at 17:46
Yak-9DD
Adrian–
Yep, this did happen. Went bookshelf trawling and found this:
“The Yak-9DD was to be used to escort USAAF B-17 Fortresses and B-24 Liberators operating ‘shuttle’ raids against Rumanian targets, flying from Poltava in the Ukraine to Bari in Italy nonstop.” (from one of the Green/Swanborough Fact File series, this being the Soviet Fighters Vol.2 book)
The Yak-9DD was an ultra-long-range development of the -9 (“DD” being the initials of the Russian for “ultra-long”).
S.
By: STORMBIRD262 - 4th August 2004 at 16:53
Yak 7s
Adrian after spending the last 3 days going over my books 🙂 , I have read again all my information about operation Frantic shuttle missions, Both from the American view point and the Russian as well, I am sure you know of the German surprise attack on the airfields damaging many American planes, And the mistrust shown towards the Americans and the poor conditions at Mirgorod and Poltava, Reports say the fuel supplied was of very poor quality, But as to your question I can find no direct evidence of Yak 7 escorts, But they and other fighters units were certainly in the area, As the fighting for Romania was in full swing, With the Russians sweeping all before them in August 1944, Taking Galatz, Ploesti and Bucharest, If you want the Yak 7 units there and other Russian fighter units, I can look them up in Stalins Falcons, The Aces of the Red Star by Tomas Polak, Which lists all the VVS units and the aircraft used and on what Fronts, Cheers for now, Tally Ho! Phil. (P.S I am 3/4 though this book and if I find any mention of the question you asked I will let you Know). 😎
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July 30, 2004 at 9:12 am