Soviets vs. Japan Manchuria Op. August Storm 1945

[han9]

I have not found a thread about the Soviet involvement in war against Japan in 1945

As with Soviet fighters in China which I have posted in the pre World War II thread j.aircraft.com is an excellent source in this regard.

I will transfer their material here on a piece by piece base.

It needs to be underscored that no plagiarism is intended and the sole reason and purpose is research.

The original can be view at:

http://www.j-aircraft.com/research/joe_brennan/order_of_battle.htm

Japanese Air Order of Battle and Operations Against 'August Storm'
August 1945
By Joe Brennan

An air order of battle for the Second Air Army, principal air unit of the Kwantung Army in Manchuria, the main Japanese force facing the Soviet invasion, Operation August Storm, August 1945, is given in Japanese Monograph No. 151, transcribed below. Modern place names where they differ, Kitai numbers of aircraft types and other editorial notes are in [].
[ORGANIZATION] Units Under the Control of the Second Air Army July 1945

Unit
   
Location
Combat Commands
Second Air Army (Hq)    Hsinking[ Changchun]
15 th Air Brigade (Hq)    Anshan
104 th Air Regiment    Anshan
25 th Independent Air Squadron    Liaoyang
81 st Independent Air Squadron    W of Hsinking
 
Manchurian Army Air Units
Air Unit Hq.    Hsinking
1st Air Unit    Hsinking
2 nd Air Unit    Mukden [ Shenyang]
3 rd Air Unit    Antung [ Dandong]
Air School    Manhungtun
 
Training Units
101 st Air Training Brigade (Hq)    Kungchuling [Gongzhuling]
4 th Advanced Air Training Unit    Mukden
13 th Advanced Air Training Unit    Kungchuling
22 nd Advanced Air Training Unit    Hsingyuchcheng
23 rd Air Training Unit    Chingshanru
26 th Air Training Unit    Mengkuli
42 nd Air Training Unit    Yamentun
24 th Air Training Unit    Sanshilipu
Air Academy Hq.    Hailang
Air Academy Training Camp    Hailin
Air Academy Training Camp    Hsingshu
Air Academy Training Camp    Chenhsi
Air Academy Training Camp    Chentung

5 th Air Training Unit Hq.
   Chinchow [ Jinzhou]
Air Unit Training Camp    Fushin
Air Unit Training Camp    Hsingcheng
Air Unit Training Camp    Koupantzu
Air Unit Training Camp    Kaiyun

[STRENGTH] Number of Second Air Army Aircraft: About 10 August 1945

[Unit] [Aircraft Type] [Number]

Unit    Aircraft Type    Number

104 th Air Regiment    Type 4 Fighter-single seater [Ki-84]    40*

25 th Ind. Air Sdn    Type 2 Fighter-two seater [Ki-45]    25*

81 st Ind Air Sdn    Type 2 Fighter-two seater [Ki-45]    20*

Type 100 Hq.    Recon [Ki-46]    5*

5 th Air Training Unit    Type 2 Advanced Trainer [Ki-79]    50

     Type 99 Advanced Trainer [Ki-55]    30

23 rd Air Training Unit    Type 99 Light Bomber 2 eng. [Ki-48]    10*

     Type 99 Advanced Trainer [Ki-55]    10

     Two Engine Advanced Trainer [Ki-54?]    10

24 th Air Training Unit    Type 100 Heavy Bomber [Ki-49]    10*

     Two Engine Advanced Trainer [Ki-54?]    10

26 th Air Training Unit    Type 1 Fighter-single seater [Ki-43]    20*

     Type 2 Advanced Trainer [Ki-79]    50

42 nd Air Training Unit    Type 100 Hq. Recon [Ki-46]    10*

4 th Adv Air Training Unit    Type 1 Fighter-single seater [Ki-43]    30*

13 th Adv Air Training Unit    Type 1 Fighter-single seater [Ki-43]    20*

22 nd Adv Air Training Unit    Type 99 Assault [Ki-51]    20*

Hane Assault Unit    Type 97 Light Bomber 1 eng. [Ki-30]    10
     Type 97 Heavy Bomber [Ki-21]    10

Air Academy    Type 99 Advanced Trainer [Ki-55]    130
     Two Engine Advanced Trainer [Ki-54?]    40
     Jungmann Trainer [Ki-86]    300

Manchurian AF and School    Type 97 Hq. Recon [Ki-15]    30*
     Type 2 Fighter-single seater [Ki-44]    40*
     Type 97 Fighter-single seater [Ki-27]    60*
     Total    1000

[Adds to 990 as given. The Soviet estimate of Kwantung Army air strength was 1800, presumably not figuring such a high percentage of totally non-combat types]

*combat serviceable

Another 20 transport and liaison types were in the flying section of 2 nd Air Army Hq. and Kwantung Army Hq. There were also a number of unserviceable planes at each repair depot.

1. During operations against the Soviet Union about 10 aircraft were lost in combat and about 50 to other causes.

2. Approximately 10 hq. recon planes and 6 transports (Type M.C.) [Ki-57/ MC-20] were transferred to the Soviets. Other planes were handed over to the Chinese Communist Army, which later entered Manchuria, the CCA established the Air Training School in Manchuria. At that school approximately 40 Japanese Fighters (Type 4) are [written in immediate postwar period] employed in training. However, just after the end of the war the Chinese Nationalist Army advanced to southern Manchuria, and it is presumed they captured some Japanese planes at the Mukden and Changchun airfields

More to follow

[Massimo Tessitori]

Thank you for your work.
Regards
Massimo

[han9]

Thank you for your work.
Regards
Massimo

You are welcome

Japanese Air Order of Battle and Operations Against 'August Storm'
August 1945
By Joe Brennan

(part II)

The original can be view at:

http://www.j-aircraft.com/research/joe_brennan/order_of_battle.htm

CHRONOLOGY OF OPERATIONS

9 August: The Soviet Union declared war on Japan and the Red Army crossed the Manchurian border in several places. One force moved west from the Vladivostok and Khabarovsk areas, another south from the direction of Chita toward Harbin, Hsingking [ Changchun] and Mukden [ Shenyang]. The 81 st Ind Air Squadron reconnoitered the eastern and western fronts.

10 August: The Soviet Zabaikal Area Army (motorized) [Transbaikal Front] crossed the border of Outer Mongolia and advanced to Horengoro.

The [15h Air?] Brigade moved to Chinchow [ Jinzhou] and the 101 st Air Training Brigade, reinforced by the 4 th Advanced Air Training Unit, to move to Tsitsihar [ Qiqihar]. After redeployment these units were to attack the enemy in the vicinity of Linhsi [Linxi] and Taonan.

11 August: A powerful enemy force moved south on the Uruschin-Linhsi road. As ordered the 15 th Air Brigade advanced to Chinchow and Tsitsihar.

12 August: The enemy reached the line of Hailar, Wuchakow [Wuchagou], Tulieh, Mactu, Linhsi and on the eastern front, the area of the Muling [river] position.

The 101 st Air Training Brigade (reinforced) advanced to Tsitsihar. The 15 th Air Brigade attacked Linhsi and the 101 st Air Training Brigade attack the enemy 50km west of Lichuan [Tuquan]. 25 Type 4 fighters, 17 Type 2 two seater fighters and 142 [sic, only 70 listed in the OOB] Type 1 fighters were used in these attacks and the results were 27 guns and 42 trucks destroyed and about 500 men and horses killed.

13 August: The enemy main body reached Hsingan [Wangyemiao or Ulan Hot or vicinity], Lichuan and Chinchaimiao (40km SW of Taonan) apparently for the purpose of concentrating his forces.


The Air Army continued its attack in spite of the bad weather. The 15 th Air Brigade, flying into a storm, returned to Anshan. The 101 st Air Training Brigade attacked the enemy 30km west of Taonan with selected planes.

Sortie Strength: 3 Type-99 assault planes, 4 Type 1 fighters.

Results: 8 tanks.

14 August: The enemy at the western front deployed along the Hsingan-Lichuan-Linhsi line and began preparations of the advance; approximately 1,500 motor trucks were coming from the rear. The enemy constructed airfields in the vicinity of Hsingan and Taipsi [Taiping]. The main force of the enemy on the eastern front was preparing for attack near Muling, and 150 tanks advanced through an opening to the left of the Mutankiang [ Mudanjiang].

The Air Army continued to attack with an element while preparing for renewed attacks against the enemy main body on the western front, which were scheduled for the 15 th. An element of the 15 th Air Brigade attacked the enemy in the vicinity of Linhsi. The main body of the 101 st Air Training Brigade (with the 4 th Advanced Air Training Unit attached) attacked the enemy 15km W of Taonan.

Sortie Strength: 5 Type 4 fighters; 7 two seater fighters; 13 Type 1 fighters; 4 Type 99 assault planes.

Results: 3 tanks.

The 15 th Air Brigade and the 101 st Air Training Brigade concentrated their entire forces at Anshan and Kungchuling [Gongzhuling], respectively. The Hane Air Unit, composed of the 26 th Air Training Unit and the 4 th Advanced Air Training Unit, concentrated at Fenchipo [Fenshui] and prepared for the attack of the 15 th, with the issuance of the Hane Air Unit Operation Order A, No. 48. Then, the 15 th Air brigade and Hane Air Unit advanced to Ssuping [Siping] and to the west of Hsinking, respectively. Preparations of the 1 st Hane Special Attack Unit (5 th Air Training Unit) began.

15 August: No change in the enemy situation.

Carried out the scheduled attack in the morning. The entire force of the 15 th Air Brigade attacked Taonan from Ssuping. The entire force of the 101 st Air Training Brigade advanced to Tsitsihar and made preparations for the attack in the afternoon. The entire force of the Hane Air Unit attacked Taonan from Hsinking and advanced to Tsitsihar.

Sortie Strength: 12 Type 4 fighters; 9 two seater fighters; 18 Type 1 Fighters

Results: 23 planes; 135 motor trucks; 2 warehouses; 5 positions; approximately 300 men. [P-63?s of the 17 Fighter Regiment, Soviet Tactical Air Forces, claimed a Ki-27 or Ki-43 among those attacking A-20?s and damaging one, near Wangyemiao 15 August].

The Imperial Rescript on cease-fire was received at noon.

Upon receipt of the Imperial Rescript ending the war at noon of the 15 th, the attacks were suspended and the forces, maintaining strict watch for the purposes of self- defense, waited in readiness. Subsequent attacks and the projected special attack of the 5 th Air Training Unit suspended at 2400 hours.

[Only combat and otherwise selected entries are excerpted from the entries of 16 August through 4 September.]

17 August: ?The Hane Air Unit provided one squadron, under the command of Captain Kamata, to escort Prince Takeda on his flight from Seoul to Hsinking.

18 August: ?The squadron of the Hane Air Unit completed the escort mission for Prince Takeda (4 planes in suicide plunge). [Loza in ?Commanding the Red Army?s Sherman Tanks? reports an attack by 6 suicide planes on his 46 th Tank Brigade, 6 th Guards Tank Army, near Tongliao 19 August, one truck was destroyed and a Sherman damaged].

19 August: ?a paratroop unit of the Soviet Army landed in the Hsinking East Airfield about 1400 hours?.Also the river guard of the Manchurian Army started a revolt, and it was feared that the liaison with North Manchuria might be cut off at the Second Sungari River. Therefore on the morning of the 19 th, the 15 th Air Brigade was hastily concentrated at Hsinking and ordered to attack (the Manchurian force), and at the same time search and attacks were carried out against these forces by an element of the 42 nd Air Training Unit.

ADDITIONAL JAPANESE AIR UNITS FACING THE SOVIETS, AUGUST 1945

A probably incomplete list follows of air units engaging or possibly engaging the Soviets other than those of the Kwantung Army given in Monograph 151:

5 th Air Army ( China): apparently the 90 th Air Regiment (Ki-48) was the only Japanese air unit in China proper to engage the Soviets, though others advanced in preparation. It flew 20 sorties against the Soviets 14 August.

JAAF fighter units in Korea: The 22 nd, 25 th and 85 th Air Regiments, Ki-84, were based in southern Korea at the end of the war. They engaged USAAF units over Korea in August but no information is known of operations against the Soviets. However according to a Russian source, the North Korean air force operated Ki-43?s at least until the late 1940?s, apparently from Japanese units stationed at some point in northern Korea (the 25 th had Ki-43?s on hand at least into 1945).

JNAF fighter unit in Korea: Hikotai 304 of Air Group 252 (formerly Fighter Squadron, Genzan Air Group) was based at Wonsan, northern Korea in 1945. Several sources indicate that this unit was equipped with some N1K1-J Shiden (George) and J2M Raiden (Jack) fighters in addition to A6M5?s (Yak-9?s of the 19 th Fighter Regiment, Soviet Fleet Air Arm, claimed 2 J2M?s in northeastern Korea, 15 August).

JAAF fighter unit in the Kuriles: 3 rd Chutai, 54 th Air Regiment (Ki-43) based at Kashiwabara, Paramushiro.

JNAF fighter unit in the Kuriles: Shumshu Detachment, Air Group 203, based at Shumshu, 19 A6M?s as of 1944

[han9]

Moving on ? another load of interesting stuff from j-aircraft.com

AERIAL ACTIONS OVER KURILES (AUGUST 1945)
by Gabriel Garrido
 
Japanese air force defending the Kuriles

The original is available at:

http://www.j-aircraft.com/research/aerial_actions_over_kuriles.htm

 There is little or no accurate information about the Japanese air force in the Kuriles in 1945. The Russians recovered at least six unidentified but presumably A6M5 Zeke fighters, two unidentified single-engine bombers and a half dozen of older torpedo bomber, the B5N2 Kate, at the airfields on Shimushu  ( the most northward island of the Kuriles chain ). Further up to 7 or 8 were claimed by the Soviet vessels, and some reports a Soviet vessel was crashed by an aircraft acting as a Kamikaze. It is known that in 1944 a force of 19 Zeros has been left as the Shimushu Detachment by Naval Air Group 203, when that group departed back to the Home Islands and thence to the Philippines (where it was destroyed). It is possible that a few Nakajima J1N1-S Irving night fighters were also left, as the US was conducting occasional bombing operations on Paramushiro by Navy PV-1 Venturas, and their succesors PV-2 Harpoons; and Army B-24 Liberators from the Aleutian bases. During 1943 and 1944, Japanese Army fighters on Paramushiro (the largest island at the northern end of Kuriles chain and southward of Shimushu) had included Ki.43 Oscar  and Ki.44 Tojo interceptors, but the author of this article lacked IJAAF order of battle data to know what was still there in 1945, although several Oscars were seen as late as June  [1]. Similarly, in the past a unit of Mitsubishi G3M Bettys [2] had provided offensive capability, along with a unit of four-engine flying boats (probably the H6K2 Mavis), but these had apparently been withdrawn by summer 1945. There was also a Japanese air early warning radar of unspecified type on the southern cape of Paramushiro, Kurabu Zaki, but its view of Shimushu was likely blocked by the 5958 foot volcano (apparently named Suribachi, like the one on Iwo Jima) in the center of  Paramushiro.

 Soviet air force support of the Kuriles invasion [3]
 
The Soviet air cover and support for the Shimushu landings were provided by the 128 SAD, their 888 IAP had the P-63 Kingcobra, which they had received only in August 1945, before that they remained the last active Soviet fighter regiment with the I-16.  The 410 ShAP, also of the same division also had converted to the P-63, in their case from the Il-2 (It is uncertain but possible that they may have been redesignated as 410 IAP.).  The third regiment in the division flew a mixture of A-20 and SB bombers, and a few PV-1s which had been interned prior to August 1945. The naval torpedo bomber unit was the 2 MTAD (division), consisting of the 4 MTAP (Il-4 & DB-3), 49 MTAP (Il-4, A-20G, & A-20H), & 52 MTAP (DB-3). 

The Invasion
 
Its unclear when the Russian landing force left Petropavlosk,  but it was intended to land around dawn on 18th August. The Russian convoy?s passage across the First Kurile Strait took place in a typical sub-Artic dense fog. This meant that the landing took the Japanese defenders by surprise, but it also prevented the Russian air units from flying from Kamchatka?s airfields until as noon of August 18th. After that, several groups of 8 to 16 aircraft each made a number of raids on Katoaka and Kashiwara bases, with the objective of preventing transportation of the Japanese troops from Paramushiro to Shimushu. In their turn the Japanese aircraft conducted some attacks vs the Cape Lopatka shore battery of four 130 mm guns that was giving land-base fire support to the landings (Cape Lopatka coast defense artillery was on the Kamchatka mainland,12km from the Shimushu north coast). And also attacked the Russian landing craft and their escorts. While sources are mixed, between 10:30 AM and 01:30 PM  either two aircraft or a flight of 7 or 8, attempted to attack the T-525 minesweeper, but were shot down or driven off by the ship?s AA fire in the Sea of Okhotsk, off the Shimushu western coast. One crashed ashore. Further at least some sources report that Minesweeping cutter (mottor boat) KT-152 was sunk by a Japanese Kamikaze aircraft attack on 18th or 19th August 1945 in the Shimushu area.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
[1] On the back cover of a Russian magazine some years ago there was a color photo of a Ki-43 landing gear sticking out of a Kurile bog, and a brief mention that some Russians were planning on restoring a Ki-43 from assorted parts.  There has been no further word about that delightful project. (This information was kindly provided by George M. Mellinger ).
 
[2]  I supose that this is a failure of the author and he wanted to say G4M.
 
[3]  This information was also kindly provided by George M. Mellinger.

[han9]

Soviet Air Forces "Autumn Storm" Air Order of Battle
by George Mellinger, Twin Cities Aero Historians, RART-Air Britain (updated 01/28/2001)

source:

http://j-aircraft.com/research/George_Mellinger/soviet_order_of_battle.htm

Little attention has been paid to the brief Soviet-Japanese war of August 1945, "Operation Autumn Storm" as the Soviets called it. Most of what has been available is from the Japanese perspective. Colonel David Glantz published the Soviet Army Order of Battle as an appendix to his two-volume book about the Soviet operation, and includes major Soviet air formations. But a detailed presentation of the Soviet Air Order of Battle has not been available.

The basic structure of Soviet airpower changed surprisingly little during the war years. After the first exodus of units sent westward in June 1941, for the rest of the war most units remained in place, shifting resources by transferring individual squadrons and pilots but retaining the basic regimental and divisional structure. After Novikov reformed the Soviet air structure in the spring of 1942 the formations in the east eventually restructured to conform to the newer Soviet pattern, but it took considerably longer, as did re-equipment with modern aircraft types. There were still a few units operating such old aircraft as the I-16 and the SB as late as 1945, including the 888 IAP on the Kamchatka Peninsula, which kept the I-16 until August 1945, when it finally transitioned to the P-63. The 23 TBAE in Transbaikal still had the TB-3, though it was used as a transport and not as a bomber. Alongside the ancient aircraft, were also large numbers of the most modern types such as the Il-10 and Tu-2, which had seen limited service in the west.

The Far Eastern air structure remained fairly stable until the defeat of Germany. Almost immediately after the German surrender, ground and some air units began relocating to the Transbaikal and Far Eastern Fronts which would wage the war against Japan.

Air Divisions generally had three regiments, occasionally two, usually all of the same type. A notable exception were the the ShADs in the 12 Air Army, which consisted of 2 ShAPs and 1 IAP to provide escort. It is uncertain, but possible that this same structure existed for the other ShADs assigned to the 9 and 10 Air Armies. A similar arrangement existed in some of the naval air divisions. Statutory strength for regiments was 32 aircraft in 3 squadrons, and a headquarters flight. Squadrons had 10 aircraft, independent squadrons, perhaps a few more. Unfortunately, in most instances it has been impossible to determine the component regiments of the various air divisions, or the specific types of aircraft flown.
Fighters appear to have been mainly Yak-9, La-5/La-7, and P-63; there is no evidence of P-40s or Hurricanes being used, though these types cannot be ruled out. The main Front Aviation bombers were the P-2 and Tu-2, with perhaps some A-20s and a few SBs. The Li-2 (a licence-built version of the DC-3, often with bomb bays and turret), DB-3/Il-4 and B-25 were assigned to long range bomber units. Reconnaissance regiments and squadrons used the standard VVS fighter and bomber aircraft, particularly the Pe-2 and Yak. The Correction regiments and squadrons flew either fighters or Il-2 Shturmoviks, including a variant specially modified for artillery spotting. Naval aviation units were organized essentially identically to regular air force units. A special case was the Mine-Torpedo Regiment, equipped with the DB-3, Il-4 or A-20, and tasked with dropping torpedoes and aerial mines, and also making mast level bombing attacks. Naval reconnaissance units used either standard land-based fighters and bombers or the MBR-2, PBN and PBY-6A. Anoteher special unit was the 63 MRAE, flying the MBR-2VU variant of the Soviet flying boat, which was equipped for radio control of remote-controlled speedboats; this weapon was used briefly during the capture of Seisin.

To show the development of air power in the far east, the orders of battle are given for June 1 at the start of the build-up, August 1 on the eve of the campaign, and September 1 at the end of the campaign. When possible commanders, subordinate regiments and types of aircraft as of August 1945 have been given, where less than three regiments are listed, there were probably other regiments, as yet unidentified.



Designations:
IAK Fighter Corps
IAD Fighter Division
IAD-PVO Defense Fighter Division
IAP Fighter Regiment
OIAP Independent Fighter Regiment
OIAE Independent Fighter Squadron
ShAD Assault (Shturmovik) Division
ShAP Assault Regiment
SAD Composite Division
BAK Bomber Corps
BAD Bomber Division
BAP Bomber Regiment
BBAP Close Range Bomber Regiment
PBAP Dive Bomber Regiment
DBAD Long Range Bomber Division
DBAP Long Range Bomber Regiment
TBAE Heavy Bomber Squadron
RAP Reconnaissance Regiment
RAE Reconnaissance Squadron
DRAE Long Range Reconnaissance Squadron
KRAP (Artillery) Correction-Reconnaissance Regiment
KRAE (Artillery) Correction-Reconnaissance Squadron
KAE (Artillery) Correction Squadron
TRAD Transport Division
TRAP Transport Regiment
O/N OAPS Special Purpose Liaison Regiment
OAPS Liaison Regiment
SANAP Medical Regiment
Peregon AP Ferrying Regiment
MTAP Mine Torpedo Regiment
MRAP Naval Reconnaissance Regiment
MRAE Naval Reconnaissance Squadron
OAO Separate Avaition Flight
VU Radio control (for remotre control speedboats)
TOF Pacific Ocean Fleet
STOF Northern Pacific Ocean Fleet
OMBAP-PV Independent Border Gaurds Patrol Regiment
Gv Guards



June 1, 1945
Transbaikal Front
12 Air Army Marshal S. A. Khudyakov
245 IAD Col. G. P. Pleshchenko
781 IAP Yak-9 940 IAP Yak-9
246 IAD
70 IAP 551 IAP 718 IAP
248 ShAD Col. I. B. Savel'ev
64 ShAP Il-10 967 ShAP Il-2M 291 ShAP Il-10 51 IAP Il-10?
316 ShAD Col. A. A. Erokhin
(2 ShAPs & 1 IAP)
30 BAD
396 AP-O/N B-25C
247 BAD
56, 541 BAP
23 TBAE TB-3
12 RAP
40 KRAE
41 KRAE


Coastal Group of Forces
9 Air Army Col. Gen. I. M. Sokolov
32 IAD
249 IAD
250 IAD
251 ShAD
252 ShAD Lt. Col. V. Kh. Makarov
34 BAD Col. K. A. Mikhailov
6 RAP
464 KRAP
281 TRAP



Far Eastern Front
18 IAK 296 IAD
777 IAP
96 ShAD Col. I. A. Kochergin
75 ShAP Maj. S. A. Chernykh
140 DRAE
28 KAE
19 BAK Gen. N. A. Volkov
33 BAD
55 BAD
442 DBAP Il-4
443 DBAP IL-4
128 SAD Lt. Col. M. A. Eryomin
888 IAP I-16 410 ShAP Il-2 903 BAP SB-2, PV-1, A-20
255 SAD
19 OIAE
799 RAP
10 Air Amy Col. Gen. P. F. Zhigarev
29 IAD
554 IAP Yak-9, Yak-3
254 IAD Lt. Col. N. A. Silaev
300 IAP Yak-9T
528 OIAP
253 ShAD Lt. Col. K. T. Tsedrik
83 BAD
7 RAP
411 KRAP
344 TRAP



Anti Aircraft Defense
Transbaikal Army PVO
297 IAD-PVO
401 IAP LA-5 938 IAP Yak-7B 939 IAP
Amur Army PVO
149 IAD-PVO
3 IAP LA-5 18 IAP Yak 60 IAP 400 IAP
Coastal Army PVO
147 IAD-PVO
34 IAP Yak-9 404 IAP Yak-9 429 IAP Yak 564 IAP LaGG-3?


August 1, 1945
Transbaikal Front
115, 116, 131, 132, 133 RAE
40, 41 KAE
12 Air Army Marshal S. A. Khudyakov
190 IAD Col. V.V. Fokin
17 IAP P-63A 821 IAP P-63A (only 2 regiments)
245 IAD Col. G. P. Pleshchenko
781 IAP P-63A 940 IAP P-63A
246 IAD
70 IAP 551 IAP 718 IAP
248 ShAD Col. I. B. Savel'ev
64 ShAP Il-10 967 ShAP Il-2M 291 ShAP Il-10 51 IAP Il-10?
316 ShAD Col. A. A. Erokhin
(2 ShAPs & 1 IAP)
6 BAK Maj. Gen. I. P. Skok
326 BAD Tu-2 ? Col. V. S. Lebedev
334 BAD
12, 132, 454 BAP Tu-2
7 BAK Lt. Gen. V. A. Ushakov
113 DBAD
815, 836, 855 DBAP Il-4
179 BAD


30 BAD
396 AP-O/N B-25C
54 BAD (DBA) Maj. Gen. V. A. Shchyolkin
29 Gv BAP Li-2 117 Gv BAP Li-2 340 BAP Il-4
247 BAD
56 BAP
541 OBAP
23 TBAE TB-3
12 RAP
21 Gv TRAD Maj. Gen. I. M. Gorskii
49 Gv, 50 Gv, 51 Gv TRAP Li-2
O/N OAPS
1010 Peregon. AP



Coastal Group of Forces
9 Air Army Col. Gen. I. M. Sokolov
32 IAD
249 IAD
250 IAD
251 ShAD
252 ShAD Lt. Col. V. Kh. Makarov
19 BAK Gen. N. A. Volkov
33 BAD
55 BAD
34 BAD Col. K. A. Mikhailov
6 RAP
799 RAP
464 KRAP
281 TRAP
81 SANAP
121 OAPS



Far Eastern Front
10 Air Amy Col. Gen. P. F. Zhigarev
18 IAK
296 IAD
777 IAP
96 ShAD Col. I. A. Kochergin
75 ShAP Maj. S. A. Chernykh
140 DRAE
28 KAE
128 SAD Lt. Col. M. A. Eryomin
888 IAP P-63A 410 ShAP P-63A 903 BAP SB-2, PV-1, A-20
255 SAD
29 IAD
554 IAP Yak9, Yak-3
254 IAD Lt. Col. N. A. Silaev
300 IAP Yak-9T
253 ShAD Lt. Col. K. T. Tsedrik
83 BAD
7 RAP
411 KRAP
344 TRAP


Anti Aircraft Defense
Transbaikal Army PVO
297 IAD-PVO
401 IAP LA-5 938 IAP Yak-7B 939 IAP
Amur Army PVO
149 IAD-PVO
3 IAP LA-5 18 IAP Yak 60 IAP 400 IAP
Coastal Army PVO
147 IAD-PVO
34 IAP Yak-9 404 IAP Yak-9 429 IAP Yak 564 IAP LaGG-3?


September 1, 1945
Transbaikal Front
115, 116, 131, 132, 133 RAE
40, 41 KAE
6 Guards Tank Army
132 Gv RAE
276 Gv OAPS
12 Air Army Marshal S. A. Khudyakov
190 IAD Col. V.V. Fokin
17 IAP P-63A 821 IAP P-63A (only 2 regiments)
245 IAD Col. G. P. Pleshchenko
781 IAP P-63A 940 IAP P-63A
246 IAD
70 IAP 551 IAP 718 IAP
248 ShAD Col. I. B. Savel'ev
64 ShAP Il-10 967 ShAP Il-2M 291 ShAP Il-10 51 IAP Il-10?
316 ShAD Col. A. A. Erokhin
(2 ShAPs & 1 IAP)
6 BAK Maj. Gen. I. P. Skok
326 BAD Tu-2 ? Col. V. S. Lebedev
334 BAD
12, 132, 454 BAP Tu-2
7 BAK Lt. Gen. V. A. Ushakov
113 DBAD
815, 836, 855 DBAP Il-4
179 BAD

30 BAD
396 AP-O/N B-25C
54 BAD (DBA) Maj. Gen. V. A. Shchyolkin
29 Gv BAP Li-2 117 Gv BAP Li-2 340 BAP Il-4
247 BAD
56 BAP
541 OBAP
23 TBAE TB-3
12 RAP
1 KRAP
7 KRAP
21 Gv TRAD Maj. Gen. I. M. Gorskii
49 Gv, 50 Gv, 51 Gv TRAP Li-2
259 OAPS
262 OAPS
1 SANAP
1010 Peregon. AP


1 Far Eastern Front
9 Air Army Col. Gen. I. M. Sokolov
32 IAD
249 IAD
250 IAD
251 ShAD
252 ShAD Lt. Col. V. Kh. Makarov
19 BAK Gen. N. A. Volkov
33 BAD
55 BAD
34 BAD Col. K. A. Mikhailov
6 RAP
799 RAP
464 KRAP
281 TRAP
81 SANAP
121 OAPS


2 Far Eastern Front
87 SANAP
256 OAPS
10 Air Amy Col. Gen. P. F. Zhigarev
18 IAK
296 IAD
777 IAP
96 ShAD Col. I. A. Kochergin
75 ShAP Maj. S. A. Chernykh
140 DRAE
28 KAE
128 SAD Lt. Col. M. A. Eryomin
888 IAP P-63A 410 ShAP P-63A 903 BAP SB-2, PV-1, A-20
255 SAD
29 IAD
554 IAP Yak9, Yak-3
254 IAD Lt. Col. N. A. Silaev
300 IAP Yak-9T
253 ShAD Lt. Col. K. T. Tsedrik
83 BAD
7 RAP
411 KRAP
344 TRAP



Anti Aircraft Defense
Transbaikal Army PVO
297 IAD-PVO
401 IAP LA-5 938 IAP Yak-7B 939 IAP
Amur Army PVO
149 IAD-PVO
3 IAP LA-5 18 IAP Yak 60 IAP 400 IAP
Coastal Army PVO
147 IAD-PVO
34 IAP Yak-9 404 IAP Yak-9 429 IAP Yak 564 IAP LaGG-3?


Pacific Ocean Fleet Air Flotilla

VVS-STOF Maj. Gen. G. G. Dzyuba
15 SAD-TOF Col. M. P. Mikhailov
17 BAP
16 SAD-STOF Col. K. D. Denisov
31 IAP LaGG-3, P-39 Maj.A. N. Gorobunov
60 ShAP Il-2M3 Lt. Col. K. N. Lunin
41 OIAP-STOF LaGG-3
42 OIAP-STOF Yak-9 Maj. B. A. Novikov
58 OIAP-STOF Maj. M. F. Samozvantsev
59 OIAP-STOF Yak-9 Lt. Col. D. E. Nikhamin
56 OShAP-STOF Il-2m3, Il-10 Maj. V. I. Nikolaev
48 ODRAP-STOF MBR-2, PBY-6A



VVS-TOF Lt. Gen. P. N. Lemeshko
7 IAD-TOF Col. I. G. Romanenko
6 IAP (22 Gv IAP 9/26/45) P-63A
17 IAP La-7
61 IAP (21 Gv IAP 9/26/45) Yak-9 Maj. P. N. Korostelev
12 ShAD-TOF Lt. Col. M. V. Bartashov
26 ShAP (26 Gv ShAP 8/26/45) Il-10 Maj. A. M. Nikolaev
37 ShAP (37 Gv ShAP 8/22/45) Il-2m3 Maj. M. N. Barbashinov
14 IAP Yak-9
38 IAP Yak-9
10 PBAD-TOF Lt. Col. S. A. Kovalenko
33 PBAP Pe-2
34 BBAP (34 Gv BAP 8/26/45) SB, Pe-2 Capt. N. I. Druzdev
19 IAP ( ? Gv 8/26/45) Yak-9
2 MTAD-TOF Maj. Gen.P. I. Suchkov
4 MTAP DB-3, Il-4 Maj. N. M. Chernyaev
49 MTAP Il-4, A-20G/H
52 MTAP (52 Gv MTAP 8/28/45) DB-3 Lt. Col. M. I. Burkin
16 IAP-TOF Yak-9
27 IAP-TOF P-39 (transferred from Northern Fleet)
39 IAP-TOF
43 IAP-TOF P-39 (Transferred from Black Sea Fleet)
45 IAP-TOF
36 MTAP-TOF Il-4, A-20G (transferred from Northern Fleet)
55 OPBAP-TOF Pe-2 Maj. F. N. Radus
16 RAP-TOF PBN-1, PBY-6A
50 MRAP-TOF (50 Gv MRAP 8/26/45) Maj. I. V. Sidin
(12 A-20, 10 DB-3, 6 Tu-2R, 1 Pe-2, 1 B-25, 15 Yak-9)
115 MRAP-TOF MBR-2
117 RAP-TOF MBR-2 Lt. Col. N. A. Belyaev
57 MRAE-TOF
63 MRAE-TOF MBR-2VU
76 MRAE-TOF
68 OAO-Amur Flotilla
2 OMBAP-PV-TOF MBR-2

[han9]

Another interesting feature from j-aircraft.com

Soviet Naval Aerial Kills in August 1945
by George Mellinger, Twin Cities Aero Historians

The original can be viewed at http://www.j-aircraft.com/research/soviet_navel_aerial_kills_augus.htm
 
It seems the Soviets generally met little opposition in the air during their brief war against Japan in August 1945, Operation Autumn Storm, and suffered most of their losses to anti-aircraft fire and to non-combat causes.  There has been mention of one incident when an Army pilot, Jr. Lt. Miroshnichenko, of the 17 IAP flying the P-63 Kingcobra shot down a Ki-43 or K-27 fighter, while operating on the Transbaikal Front out of Mongolia..  Undoubtedly at least a few other Soviet Army Air pilots managed to score air victories, but no details are known.

The situation regarding activity by the Soviet Pacific Ocean Air Flotilla has just become a bit more clear.  The navy took a major role in the seizure of Sakhalin and the Kurile Islands, and the push down the coast to seize northern Korea.  The Soviet naval air arm flew a total of 474 sorties and lost 57 aircraft, 37 to enemy action, and 55 men - 23 pilots and 32 crew members.   There were no losses known to be due to enemy aircraft.  Several individuals wee awarded the HSU, leading to one immediate post-war scandal.  A shturmovik pilot who had been awarded the HSU after his heroic death during an anti-shipping strike, was discovered very much alive and healthy in the capitalist American zone of occupied Korea.  He had survived the crash at sea and rowed himself to shore in his liferaft.  The Comrades were not glad to see him.

In a torpedo strike, Major G. D. Popovich, flying an Il-4 twin-motor torpedo bomber of the 4 MTAP sank the only Japanese naval vessel sunk during the campaign, a 740  ton ?Type D Frigate?, hull number 82. (Maybe one of you Japanese specialists can better clarify the vessel class  - top speed 17.5kts, 2 120mm & 6 25mm guns).   

The Soviet naval pilots scored a total of 4 aerial victories, details of three being available.

On August 10, 1945 Junior Lieutenant Korshunov of the 50 OMRAP (Ind. Naval Reconnaissance Air Regt.), flying a Yak-9 encountered and shot down a Kawanishi H6K Mavis over Rasin (later Najin) in the Northeastern-most corner of Korea.
 
On August 15, 1945, at 13:30 hours, 29 Pe-2 dive bombers of the 55 BAP bombed the railroad station at Ranan (later Nanam).  A Pair of J2M fighters tried to intervene and an escorting Yak-9 of the 19 IAP shot down one of them, the other escaping.
 
At 17:18  hours that same day, 34 Pe-2s of the 33 BAP, again escorted by the Yak-9s of the 19 IAP, attacked the station at Funei (late Nuren).  Again there was token opposition, and once again a J2M was shot down; this time the pilot was identified as a Lieutenant Grib.