Poltava in WW2 History | World War II Database

7 Jun 1887

Ukraine

Sydir Kovpak was born near Poltava, Russia (now Ukraine). ww2dbase [Sydir Kovpak | Poltava | CPC]

18 Sep 1941

Ukraine

German troops captured Poltava, Ukraine. ww2dbase [Operation Barbarossa | Poltava | TH]

17 Jan 1942

Ukraine

Walther von Reichenau passed away from either a cerebral hemorrhage or a heartattack near Poltava, Ukraine. ww2dbase [Walther von Reichenau | Poltava | CPC]

3 Jul 1942

Ukraine

Adolf Hitler arrived at Poltava, Ukraine to meet with Fedor von Bock to discuss the offensive in southern Russia. ww2dbase [Adolf Hitler | Poltava | CPC]

2 Jun 1944

Photo(s) dated 2 Jun 1944

Soviet Air Force Major General Alexei R. Perminov, commander of the air base at Poltava, Ukraine on the occasion of welcoming the first American Operation Frantic bombers to the base, 2 Jun 1944.

United States ambassador to the USSR, W. Averell Harriman, being greeted by Soviet MGen Alexei Perminov, at the air base at Poltava, Ukraine on the arrival of the first US bombers of Operation Frantic, 2 Jun 1944.

21 Jun 1944

Photo(s) dated 21 Jun 1944

American and Soviet servicemen crowd around a Jeep at Poltava air base, Ukraine during Operation Frantic, 21 Jun 1944.

Soviet Yak-9 fighters and American B-17 Fortress bombers of the 99th Bomb Group based in Italy, along with Soviet and American crews, at Poltava, Ukraine as part of Operation Frantic, 21 Jun 1944.

Soviet pilots Andrea Hincerockur and Corzen Venzopkin flank United States Army Lieutenant Thompson Highfill of the 99th Bomb Group in front of a Soviet P-39 Airacobra, Poltava Air Base, Ukraine, 21 Jun 1944.

22 Jun 1944

Ukraine

He 111 bombers from various units of German Luftwaffe KG 4 (pathfinders), KG 53, and KG 55 were launched to attack US bombers at Poltava and Mirgorod (Myrhorod) Airfields in Ukraine; navigation errors led to all bombers attacking Poltava, starting from 2355 hours on the previous date into this date. 44 US B-17 bombers and 15 various other US and Soviet aircraft were destroyed; 26 US B-17 bombers were damaged. All German bombers returned to their bases safely. ww2dbase [Poltava | CPC]

Photo(s) dated 22 Jun 1944

Wreckage of a 452nd Bomb Group B-17 Fortress as part of Operation Frantic after being destroyed on the ground the night before during a German bombing attack on Poltava, Ukraine, 22 Jun 1944.

Thought to be the only photograph taken during the nighttime bombing attack on American B-17 bombers at Poltava, Ukraine, 22 Jun 1944 during Operation Frantic. The bright streaks are likely flares to light up the field.

25 Jun 1944

Ukraine

At daybreak, B-17s and P-51s were flown from dispersal bases to Poltava and Myrhorod and loaded and fueled with intentions of bombing the oil refinery at Drohobycz (Drohobych), Poland before proceeding to bases in Italy as part of Operation Frantic’s shuttle-bombing plan. Bad weather canceled the mission until the following day. The aircraft returned to dispersal bases for the night as precaution against air attacks. ww2dbase [B-17 Flying Fortress | P-51 Mustang | Operation Frantic | Poltava | DS]

11 Apr 1945

Photo(s) dated 11 Apr 1945

B-17G Fortress of the 401st Bomb Group based at Deenethorpe, England on the ramp at Poltava, Ukraine alongside a B-24 Liberator and a C-47 Skytrain, 11 Apr 1945. Poltava was used by US bombers during Operation Frantic.

12 Apr 1945

Photo(s) dated 12 Apr 1945

A B-24L Liberator of the 459th Bomb Group based in Italy after arriving at Poltava Air Base, Ukraine, 12 Apr 1945.

Soviet Major General S.K. Kovalev and US Major General John Deane with an interpreter at Poltava Air Base, Ukraine, 12 Apr 1945. MGen Deane was stationed in Moscow as the US military attaché to the Soviet Union.

23 Jul 1945

Ukraine

The last USAAF personnel of Operation Frantic left Poltava, Ukraine as the final step in closing the operation. ww2dbase [Operation Frantic | Poltava | DS]

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis

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