The German city bombed by Soviet aircraft on the first day of the war

June 22, 1941, was a “black day” for the Red Army Air Force. As a result of air strikes on airfields and air battles, about 1,200 aircraft were lost. The Luftwaffe firmly seized the initiative in the air.

But, even in these difficult conditions, Soviet bomber aviation acted according to plans that had been developed before the war. It bombed major railway junctions and bridges on enemy territory.

At 4:50 am, less than an hour after the start of the invasion, SB bombers of the 9th High-Speed ​​Bomber Aviation Regiment took off from the Panevezys airfield in Soviet Lithuania. They were headed for the city of Tilsit in East Prussia (today Sovetsk, Kaliningrad Region).

A total of 25 combat aircraft took part in the raid. The bombers made a detour and approached the city from an unexpected direction for the enemy. And, at 6:20 am, the first Soviet bombs fell on the Tilsit railway station. But, the air regiment lost three planes to German air defense fire.

The 46th Air Regiment was, however, much less fortunate, having taken off in the direction of Tilsit almost an hour later than its comrades. By the time it arrived, Luftwaffe fighters had already arrived to defend the city. They shot down 10 of the 18 Soviet bombers, losing only one plane in the process.