The attack of VVS-ChF torpedo-bombers on Constanta

[Victor]

This is a summary from the Marina Romana in al doilea razboi mondial by Nicolae Koslinski and Raymond Stanescu, vol. II, Fat-Frumos, Bucharest 1997.

On 28 September 1943, at 1258 hours, six DB-3Fs attacked the Constanta port and dock. They came in very low, in order to avoid the German radar. The six bombers flew abreast until they passed the Queen's Nest, launched their torpedoes and then dispersed. Four torpedoes were sighted. One hit the seawall, another one jumped over the NMS Regele Ferdinand and "drowned" without exploding, another one jumped over the NMS Marasesti, fell in the water and also "drowned" and the fourth went towards the dry dock, but sank before reaching it. The aircraft fired on the ships and one sailor from the NMS Marsuinul was wounded (the only casualty suffered by the Romanian submariners during WWII).

After the launch the bombers split up into two groups: two of them went north, over the city hal and then along the coast, while the other four continued to go west and then turned southwards. The first guns that opened fire were the ones on the Dacia minelayer*. The AAA response was very powerful and because of the low altitude the VVS aircraft flew, also very accurate.

One DB-3F fell 2-3 km S of Cumpana. There were three survivors, but in the exchange of fire with the Romanian troops two of them were killed (one Romanian and one German soldier were wounded). Only one was captured. Another one fell inside the courtyard of the Steaua Romana depots. It had hit a oil depot and there were no survivors. A third one fell into the sea near the Vii beach. The bodies were recuperated. On one of the crewmen was found a letter in which he mentioned his decision to take part in the raid, because of the pain caused recent death of his wife. He had also written that he expected the attack to be a complete surprise, like "snowing in summer". A fourth bomber was probably shot down by fighters 15 km E of Constanta.

On 30 September 1943, at 1515 hours, another DB-3F, this time coming from the north at 100 m, surprised the AAA defense. All the ships opened fire and it fell into the sea, being claimed by sailors on 4 of them. Two bodies were pulled out of the water.

N. Koslinski also mentions something told by a Soviet naval advisor in Bucharest, rear-admiral Chealii, that the lone bomber was also supposed to attack on 28 September, but the pilot got drunk the night before. After seeing the disaster of his comrades, he left, despite being forbidden to fly and was also shot-down.

*My first English teacher, asp. Emil Nicolau, was the officer commanding the AAA on the Dacia. This attack was one of the few war episodes he shared, otherwise being very reluctant to do it (he would talk more of his time in prison after the war though). It had an powerful impact on him, because he personally fired on one of the aircraft that were shot down, most likely on the one that fell in the Steaua Romana depot, and he felt very sorry for those 3 men that died because of him.

[Victor]

The three pilots you mentioned as being shot down: Col. Sh.B. Bedzinoshvili, kpt V.M. Levashov, sub lt. M.G. Dujkov, do you know which one flew which of the three airplanes? Which two became Heroes of The SU? Was Col. Bedzinoshvili the regiment commander?

[Miroslav Morozov]

Hi,

Col. flew on Boston-III, two other pilots - on A-20G, I don't know serial numbers.
Colonel Bedzinoshvili was the commander of 1st MTAP (VVS of Baltic fleet) in 1940-5.1941, then served as a military representative on one from air factory. 13.8.1943 he was appointed as deputy commander of 36th MTAP. Probably he perished in the first his combat mission.
No one of the perished pilots won HSU, but Ryhlov and Rukavitsin did this on May of 1944 and November 1944 respectively.

Regards,
Miroslav