Combat Operations of the 8th Air Army to Liberate the Rostov Region in July– August 1943

In July–August 1943, in accordance with the plans of the Mius and Donbass off ensive operations, the 8th Air Army received tasks to assist the ground troops of the Southern Front in breaking through the German defenses on the Mius River. The aviation of
the 8th Air Army made 770 sorties only on the fi rst day of the off ensive in July 1943 by the forces of 374 aircraft. The fi ghting during the Mius operation, which lasted from July 17 to August 2, 1943, was diffi cult. During July, the soldiers of the 8th Air Army shot down 243 enemy aircraft during 275 battles. 135 aircraft were lost in Soviet aviation regiments, 134 pilots were killed. As a result of the actions of the troops of the Southern Front at the fi rst stage of the Donbass off ensive operation in
August 1943, the enemy was forced to retreat across the Krynka River. Trying to distract the Soviet troops, the enemy was defeated.
During August 1943 Soviet aircraft dropped several hundred tons of fragmentation and high-explosive bombs on enemy targets.
The analysis of the interaction of the assault, fighter and bomber aviation of the 8th Air Army with the combined arms armies of the Southern Front in the off ensive operations of July–August 1943 allows us to make a positive assessment. It is necessary to highlight a high level of management methods, organization and interaction of assault and bomber aviation with cover groups at the entire stage of offensive operations.