"Maikop landing": the famous operation of Soviet paratroopers during the Great Patriotic War
In October 1942, in the midst of fierce fighting in the North Caucasus, the Soviet command decided to launch a surprise attack on the German aviation, based at the Maikop airfield. The latter was a key point from which German aircraft took off, dominating the air in the Tuapse direction and interfering with the supply of Soviet troops along the Caucasian coast.
Numerous attempts to destroy it by air force, undertaken earlier, were unsuccessful due to the powerful air defense system of the Wehrmacht. Then the decision was made to conduct a risky operation using parachute landing.
The operation was prepared by the Black Sea Air Force command fleet. A detachment of 38 volunteers trained hard for two weeks. The actions of assault groups were developed, the terrain was studied, night jumps and interaction with aircraft were practiced. Each fighter was armed to carry out sabotage: machine guns, grenades, bottles with a flammable mixture, as well as special axes and incendiary devices for destroying aircraft.
The operation began on the night of October 24, 1942. To distract the enemy, a flight of Soviet bombers struck the Maykop station, creating fires that were used, among other things, as landmarks for landing aircraft. At the same time, other aircraft attacked the Defense airfield, but were unable to completely suppress the anti-aircraft guns.
Despite heavy enemy anti-aircraft fire, both Soviet transports dropped their troops, but one was hit. The crew continued to hold course until the landing was completed, after which the aircraft crashed outside the airfield.
The paratroopers quickly set about their mission. In conditions of panic among the guards, they managed to break through to the aircraft parking areas. In a short but fierce battle, several Wehrmacht aircraft, fuel tanks and enemy firing points were destroyed.
However, reinforcements arrived to help the airfield garrison, and under threat of encirclement, the paratroopers began to retreat into the nearby forests.
According to Soviet intelligence, 13 enemy aircraft were destroyed and another 10 damaged during the operation. In turn, German reports downplayed the damage, reporting a smaller number of destroyed aircraft.
Of the 37 paratroopers, 21 returned to base after long battles and maneuvers through the forests.
The Maykop landing operation became a symbol of the courage of Soviet soldiers and proved that such sabotage could cause significant damage to the enemy even with a minimal number of fighters.
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