Soviet Volunteer Group in China

One of the significant Soviet-made battle aircraft during the Sino-Japanese War was the Ilyushin DB-3 long range bomber. The partially developed DB-3 had no occasion for combat in Spain, so Stalin decided to give the new weapon a test in China. Acquired through the Chinese-Soviet trade agreements of 1937, 12 DB-3s were delivered to the CAF 8th Heavy Bombardment Group from Oct 1937 to Dec 1938. These twin-engined bombers were received in the desert city Lanzhou, wherein the 8th finished its conversion training, then ferried the new flotilla to Chengdu in mid-Oct 1939. Meanwhile the Soviet Volunteer 2nd Bombardment Group’s 24 DB-3s stationed in Lanzhou and Chengdu.

The 1939 period of Chinese aerial combat was characterized by the change from defensive operations to active tactics, with the DB-3s attacked Japanese air bases and transport proceeding on the Yangtze River. It gave great support to the Chinese army and carried out its blows against the superior Japanese forces under arduous conditions. 0900, Oct 3, 9 DB-3s of the 2nd BG each loaded ten 300 lb high explosion bombs took off from Taipingsi airfield in Chengdu, heading for Japanese occupied Wangjiadun airfield in Hankou. On this visit 40 of 100 Japanese aircraft grounded were destroyed, and the raiders inflicted no damage.

20 DB-3s went off for the 2nd‘s second strike over Hankou on Oct 14. Each bomber carrying high explosive, 14 kg shrapnel, and 50 kg incendiary bombs took off at 0830. The first 11 ships formation led by Cpt. G. A. Kulishenko (CO of the 2nd) and second 9 ships formations led by N. A. Kozlov (the 2nd‘s second-in-command) reached the target at 1155 and 1230, respectively. Their bombardier got a good sight and put their ordnance in the middle of the rows of some 30 twin-engined bombers. Over 50 of the 70 plus aircraft were engulfed in a sea of flames. During the subsequent 20 minutes violent chase, 3 of the 9 interceptors were destroyed, while 1 DB was brought down. Still under their parachutes, 2 of the 3 crewmen were riddled by the Japanese strafing in midair, only the pilot Navlienk survived. Afterward the crippled CO ship ditched on the Yangtze in Sichuan, with badly wounded Kulishenko killed onboard.

In total 322 Russian bombers were sent to China in 1937-41, including Ilyushin DB-3, Tupolev TB-3, and Tupolev SB-2 Katyushka, which were replaced by the Lockheed A-29A Hudson maritime patrol bomber in 1942.