Rybin, Y. Luftwaffe ace Walter Schuck researched / Christer Bergstrom, Yuriy Rybin. - Sweden : [s. l.], 2019. - 190 p. : ill.

WALTER SCHUCK FACTS 3 SOVIET 9TH GUARDS MINE-TORPEDO REGIMENT On 1 November 1942, a new regiment was formed in VVS SF, the 24th Mine-Torpedo Regiment, 24 MTAR The formerly composite regiment 2 GSAP/VVS SF was transformed into a pure fighter unit, becoming the 2 GIAP/VVS SF. The 5th and 6th Eskadrilyas of 2 GSAP/VVS SF were transformed into the new 24 MTAP, Equipped with British-made Handley Page Hampdens, used as torpedo planes, the former elements of 2 GSAP/VVS SF formed 24 MTAP’s 2nd and 3rd Eskadrilyas. Elements of 35 MTAP, equipped with 11-4 torpedo bombers, were incorporated into 24 MTAP to form the 1st Eskadrilya. In January 1943, 24 MTAP was assigned to VVS SF’s Mine-Torpedo Division 5 MTAD. By that time, 24 MTAP was commanded by Podpolkovnik Nikolay Vedmedenko. A torpedo attack by 24 MTAP/VVS SF on 14 January 1943 went down into Soviet history writing. Two Hampdens attacked a convoy of supply ships near Vardo. For propaganda reasons, the Soviet commanders decided to present a version according to which Kapitan Andrey Bashtyrkov destroyed a ship, Leese, through a deliberate ramming. In reality, the Hampden was hit by antiaircraft fire from the escort ships and crashed into the sea, killing the whole crew, while no ship was sunk. Relentless attacks against German coastal shipping - mainly without any Soviet fighter escort - cost 24 MTAP dearly. Following an unsuccessful attack against a German coastal convoy on 16 March 1943, the 11-4 piloted by the unit commander overturned during the landing at Kildin Airdrome, killing Podpolkovnik Vedmedenko. By 1 April 1943, only a single of 24 MTAP’s Hampdens remained in serviceable condition. On 25 April, 24 MTAP finally managed to sink the Leese. Five Hampdens (of which four had been recently repaired and brought back into airworthy condition) attacked, this time escorted by six Pe-3s from 95 IAP/VVS SF. While the Pe-3s tied up the German fighter escort and submarine hunters - shooting down a BV 138 of 3./KiiFlGr 406 against two own losses - the Hampdens attacked the ships. The Hampden piloted by the group leader, Kapitan Vasiliy Kiselyov, received an AAA hit in an engine, but Kiselyov continued his attack and dropped his torpedo from short distance against the 2624-BRT steamer Leese, which exploded and went down. Kiselyov’s aircraft crashed into the waves close by, with the whole crew perishing. They were all posthumously appointed Heroes of the Soviet Union. On 31 May 1943,24 MTAP received the honorary title Guards Unit, and was renumbered into 9 GMTAP. By that time, under the command of Mayor Filipp Kostkin, the unit was equipped with Douglas A-20s. Due to the severe losses earlier in 1943, 9 GMTAP suffered from a serious lack of experienced airmen when it commenced operations with A-20s in September 1943. Still, during the remainder of the war, 9 GMTAP would remain one of JG 5’s main adversaries in the Far North. A Handley-Page Hampden torpedo bomber o f 9 GMTAP/VVS SF. The torpedo carries the inscription “Za Kiselyova”,fo r Kiselyov. Kapitan Vasiliy Kiselyov was killed while attacking and sinking the ship Leese on 25 April 1943. T