Lend-Lease A-20's - earliest service in Russia/where?

[Gambit21]

I found a reference to June 1942 - but not sure if that's accurate, or if it is on what area of the front this is referring.

Anyone have more info?

[Bearfoot]

Crowood Aviation Series' "Douglas Havoc and Boston -- The DB-7/A-20 Series" has a section dedicated to this aircraft's service in the Soviet Union (pages 101-111). They go on to say that the most authoritative and detailed source for information on this is: 

 

Geust, Carl-Fredrik and Petrov, Gennadiy. 2002. "Red Stars Volum 4: Lend Lease Aircraft it Russia" (Apali Oy).

 

They provide the following breakdown of deliveries of A-20's to the Soviet Union by year:

 

1942    - 667

1943    - 1360

1944    - 743

1945    - 1

 

They also describe in detail the organization of the deployment and operation of A-20 in the Soviet Union, but this is more general and not specific to any particular year (so I cannot tell you, e.g., what fronts had these aircraft in 1942 as opposed to 1943). If you are interested, I can try and get you some scans of the relevant pages. Lots of neat photos, but most from later in the war.

 

EDIT: just looked up the Red Stars book ... it is available for purchase ... at $200-470!!

 

EDIT: Also, which variant is IL2 BoK getting? The book says those 1942 deliveries were the C and DB-7.

Edited June 17, 2017 by Bearfoot

[Gambit21]

Thanks Bearfoot - we're getting the B variant.

 

Mainly I want to avoid creating say a Battle of the Kerch peninsula mission (41-42) featuring the A-20 if they were nowhere to be found

in the area at that time.

 

Sounds like '42' is the best you can glean from that reference - appreciated.

[Juri_JS]

Luftwaffe records show the first "Boston/DB-7" claims in early July 1942. The reports come from units supporting the advance in the Don area (Stab and I./JG 3, I./JG 53).

Edited June 17, 2017 by Juri_JS

[Gambit21]

Thank you Juri

[Farky]

First unit equipped with Bostons in action was 221.BAD (bomber division), which contained three bomber regiments - 57.BAP, 794.BAP and 860.BAP.

221.BAD was moved to the front on June 24th 1942, probably first combat mission was executed by 57.BAP on June 30th in area around city Staryj Oskol.

 

Source: Stalingrad - The Air Battle: 1942 through January 1943 ( by Christer Bergström ).

 

 

[Gambit21]

Thank you Farky - this will be useful.