Air War over North Russia

[Mangrove]

National Archives Microfilm Publication M924. American Expeditionary Forces, North Russia. Copy at the Finnish National Archive, Microfilm F117/51-52.

"24th April (1919). VAGA. Column reports patrol activities on sides. Otherwise all quiet. Planes bombed headquarters at SHEVGOVARI dropping 16 bombs. Propaganda dropped on TOPSA. 2 Russians deserted at TULGAS. [...]"

"6th May. Early in the morning two hostile planes flew over OBOZERSKAYA, but were driven off by allied plane. [...]"

"7th May. Our aerial reconnaissance saw 42 enemy craft of SELTSOE. [...]

"11th May. [...] One the VAGA our craft and batteries acting in cooperation with aeroplanes bombarded enemys position: enemy artillery replied firing at our river craft. [...]"

"15th May. [...] VAGA. Hostile plane dropped a bomb on ZABORIA at 1100 hours. No damage. [...]"

"18th May. [...] Our aeroplanes were active all day. [...]"

"20th May. [...] Later. Situation unchanged, our aeroplanes cooperated in the nights 19-20th in patrol operations on the VAGA, bombing and machine gunning enemy positions and spotting for artillery, obtaining O K on hostile battery. A direct hit also obtained by plane bomb on hostile *t**ger on the DVINA."

"22th May. [...] DVINA. Quiet. Hostile plane flying high, appear over forward area in the afternoon."

"23rd May. [...] Plane reports only 18 (?) hostile river craft between our lines and BOROK."

"24th May. [...] Artillery on the VAGA with flotilla and aeroplanes, obtained 4 direct hits. [...]

"25th May. Situation unchanged. Plane reports 17 hostile river craft near TROITSA and 33 withdrawn to FUCHEGA. Hostile plane flew over railway front, dropping 2 bombs without causing any damage, and was driven off. [...]"

"27th May. Our heavy guns on the DVINA in cooperation with aeroplanes several direct hits on hostile positions. [...]"

"31st May. Both our own and hostile planes were very active and a fight took place in the air over KITEA and SELTSOE without definite results.

On the VAGA one of our planes obtained a direct hit with a bomb on an enemy barge. [...]"

"1st June. [...] VAGA. Afternoon slight enemy shelling. We carried out successful shoot with 60 pounders and aeroplanes. 2 direct hits on an enemy 4 gun battery, which was firing on MALA BERESNIK this morning. [...]"

"3rd June. [...] One of our planes fired on an enemy balloon, which was being drawn down the railway in a truck at KMTSA, wounding some of the men grouped around it. [...]"

"4th June. "I have been enabled to transport my remaining motor boats along side of lake ONEGA by the completion of the railway MEDVEJA GORA, and the task of launching them is well in hand. I railed sea planes down directly washouts on railway to north were respired, as it was improbable that MAIRANA could sail for KEM for another week and I hope to commence using then on the Tsh (?)". [...] From Genl Maynard. [...]"

"5th June. [...] A hostile plane flew over the railway front early this morning, and dropped 3 bombs on V. F. 445 but caused no casualties; a second plane followed, but both were driven off. [...]"

"8th June. During the day an encounter took place in the air in which hostile plane was driven off. [...]"

"9th June. On the MURMANSK front our motor flotilla cooperating with our sea planes put four enemy armed vessels to flight.

"11th June. Our planes bombed "KMTSA" and observed several good bursts. [...]"

"18th June. [...] One of our planes bombed KMTSA and observed a direct hit on a train. Heavy A. A. and M. G. fire from KMTSA. On the night of 17-18 a bombing raid of 11 of our planes was carried out on POUGHUJA aerodrome. Eight 110 (?) pound bombs were dropped and 1 hangar destroyed, a plane on the ground was set on fire by tracer bullets. [...]"

To Be Continued

[paolomiana]

Hi Mangrove, very interesting topic!
Have the Finnish National Archive some other aviation related material? or better, is it possible to find these info on the net?

Kiitos

Paolo

[Mangrove]

Originally Posted by paolomiana

Hi Mangrove, very interesting topic!
Have the Finnish National Archive some other aviation related material? or better, is it possible to find these info on the net?

Well, the "Kansallisarkisto" has all the preserved material that has to do with the Finnish Air Force or Finnish military at all.

National Archives Service home page - www.narc.fi

[paolomiana]

Hi Mangrove, thanks for the help, seem that I had to study finnish language hard!
Any chance to meet on October at Vantaa Aviation Museum event? I will have a lecture on FIAT G.50 in winter/continuation war.

thanks again

Paolo

[Mangrove]

A.N.R.E.F.

The following strength return dated April 30th, 1919 is forwarded for your information:-

BRITISH:
[...]
Royal Air Force. Officers 30, Other Ranks 246.
[...]

Brigadier General D.A. & Q.M.G Allied Forces, Archangel.
GHQ 1/5/19



A.N.R.E.F.

The following strength return dated 10th. May, 1919 is forwarded for your information:-

BRITISH:
[...]
Royal Air Force. Officers 32, Other Ranks 300.
[...]

Brigadier General D.A. & Q.M.G Allied Forces, Archangel.
General Headquarters 16-5-19.



A.N.R.E.F.

The following strength return dated 17th. May, 1919 is forwarded for your information:-

BRITISH:
[...]
Royal Air Force. Officers 49, Other Ranks 300.
[...]

Brigadier General D.A. & Q.M.G Allied Forces, Archangel.
G.H.Q., 23rd May, 1919.



A.N.R.E.F.

The following strength return dated 24th. May, 1919 is forwarded for your information:-

BRITISH:
[...]
Royal Air Force. Officers 47, Other Ranks 300.
[...]

Brigadier General D.A. & Q.M.G Allied Forces, Archangel.
General Headquarters, 31st May, 1919.



A.N.R.E.F.

The following strength return dated 31st. May, 1919 is forwarded for your information:-

BRITISH:
[...]
Royal Air Force. Officers 101, Other Ranks 480.
[...]

Brigadier General D.A. & Q.M.G Allied Forces, Archangel.
G.H.Q., *th June, 1919.



A.N.R.E.F.

The following strength return dated 7th. June, 1919 is forwarded for your information:-

BRITISH:
[...]
Royal Air Force. Officers 103, Other Ranks 477.
[...]

Brigadier General D.A. & Q.M.G Allied Forces, Archangel.
General Headquarters. 13th. June, 1919.