OPERATION CITADELLE

One of the more impressive air attacks
in the east came on July 5, 1943, at the
start of the Kursk Offensive.  Hoping to
launch a preemptive strike against the
German airfields (sort of a Russian
version of Operation Bodenplatte), the
Soviet 2nd and 17th Air Armies launched
over 400 aircraft at the break of dawn
against 5 Luftwaffe airfields near
Kharkov.  Picked up by radar, the Germans
launched waves of Bf109s from JG 3 "Udet"
and JG 52 "Molders" and ripped into the
Russian bombers above 10,000 feet.  Very
few bombers penetrated all the way to the
airfields, and over 120 were shot down.
German losses were slight.  Russian
sources list 132 ground attack and 285
escorts taking place in the mission.

               MISSION

You are to defend the airfields from the
inbound Soviet bombers.  This is the
start of Operation Citadelle and every
plane counts!  Consider this a victory if
all of the Russian bombers are destroyed.

                NOTES

As this is a dawn scenario, use of the
SUNSET.PAC file in place of the VGA.PAC
file would be appropriate.

               SOURCE

"Red Phoenix: The Rise of Soviet Air
Power, 1941-1945" by Von Hardesty

           SCENARIO DESIGN

    Gregory M. "Sturmer" Smith