THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING!By: John S. Warner This event started back in August of 2003 with an E-mail to our Museum from the Mighty Eighth Museum in Savannah, Georgia. It stated they had been contacted by a Russian Video Company which desired to do oral histories with any 8th AF member who landed at Poltava during the FRANTIC (shuttle) Missions in World War II. It further stated the Russians would like to meet “with any veteran, at their choice of place and time, they will even travel to your door … .” The E-mail then asked if the Museum knew of someone who was willing to participate to let them know or offered to forward to us the Russian E-mail address to contact them. Our Museum, knowing I had flown the FRANTIC Mission of June 21, 1944, passed this matter over to me by E-mail on August 22, 2003. I advised the Mighty Eighth that I had flown this mission and possibly could help. The Mighty Eighth responded by furnishing me the E-mail address of the Russians. By E-mail of August 25, 2003, I informed the Russians of our Museum here in Tucson and that I had flown the FRANTIC Mission in June 1944 with B-17’s landing at Poltava and Mirgorod. There followed a long period of silence until an E-mail to me of November 1, 2003 from Tatiana Nikulina, the translator, and Alexander Slavin, the Docmentary Director. It stated they were writing from the Wings of Russia Company. Their studio is located on the territory of the Gromov Flight Research Institute in the city of Zhukovsky, Moscow region. They are preparing for Russian TV a documentary to include the FRANTIC Mission with the B-17’s landing in Poltava. They state that “only now we are sure about our trip to the U.S.,” citing the difficulties to get U.S. visas at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. They say they are planning to make the trip to the U.S. in mid-November and ask if I can meet with them since my experiences “about that Mission are very interesting for us.” They conclude by saying they will “be able to come to meet with you wherever is convenient for you.” The next day I responded by saying we should meet in Tucson for them to see our Museum and suggested late November. I requested dates from them. On November 7th, they reply they are leaving for the U.S. on November 14th and will return to Russia by December 1. Tatiana writes on 11 November 2003 wishing us a Happy Veterans Days. She also requested telephone numbers for me and the Museum. THE RUSSIANS ARE NOT COMING!On November 17, I E-mailed Tatiana asking for more precise timing of their visit to Tucson. On the 19th, I received a reply stating they are in Washington, D.C. and were uncertain if they would be able to come to Arizona. In a day or two, Alexander Slavin telephoned advising regretfully their trip to Arizona was off. THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING!How quickly things change. Tatiana by E-mail of November 25, 2003, tells us the trip to Tucson is not off -- their stay is extended. Their E-mail states they will be in California the first week of December. On the 26th of November, Alexander Slavin telephones asking about a hotel, and I quickly handled this for him. I requested specifics about times of arrival and departure, names of those coming, and other details. Telephone calls from them gave the arrival in Tucson as December 2, and departure the next day. They asked that I meet them at their hotel at 7:00 p.m. on December 2 with a meeting to be scheduled at the Museum for the next morning. Slavin gave me the name of his cameraman, Anton Vanchurkin.
For three hours in the evening of December 2nd, I met with Alexander and the cameraman, Anton Vanchurkin – only Alexander had proficient English. Anton had more than sufficient camera equipment. The entire interview was done on camera. It seemed necessary to give them a brief overview of the FRANTIC Mission of June 21, 1944. The overall plan called for a task force of two wings of three bomb groups each, escorted by a P-51 fighter group. This force was led by the 45th Wing (96th, 388th, and 452nd Bomb Groups) and the 13th Wing (95th, 100th and 390th Bomb Groups) – in total some 150 B-17’s. After dropping our bombs on Ruhland, some fifty miles south of Berlin, the 45th Wing landed at Poltava with about 75 aircraft, and the 13th Wing landed at Mirgorod, also with about 75 aircraft. The night of arrival (June 21, 1944) resulted in a German bombing attack at Poltava leaving only a handful of B-17’s in flyable condition -- total destruction of almost 70 aircraft. The leaders of the task force, noting the absence of any defense of these two air fields, took action the next day to move the 13th Wing Bomb Groups. The 95th Bomb Group flew to an airfield near Kharkov, and the 390th Bomb Group went to Zaporozke. The 100th Bomb Group went to Kirovograd, south of Mirgorod. Such action was proven to be wise when that night the Germans made a bombing try at Mirgorod – but no B-17’s destroyed that night. After I told them of my diary and my flight log, Sascha (short for Alexander) began the questions (almost a full three hours on camera). I explained the difference in attitude of the Russians at Mirgorod where I initially landed and then over to Zaporozke as opposed to Poltava which was the principal base. The people at Poltava were much cooler and removed than those at Mirgorod and Zaporozke. Pictures were taken of selected parts of my diary and flight log. I told them of walking the streets of Zaporozke and being invited in to a large house where there was music. Two soldiers invited the two of us in, and other Russians came to us inviting us to “dance with my girl,” which we did. Prior to leaving Russia, we flew to Poltava to secure fuel and bombs. All of us were shocked to see destroyed B-17’s as far as we could see in every direction. I answered many questions about the rationale for the FRANTIC Missions – also details about the B-17’s. Sascha clearly was concerned about creating a meaningful and interesting film and, in my view, was not as concerned with the historic nature of the FRANTIC Mission and the possible effects on U.S.-Russian relations. On this last day, December 3, in my car I guided Slavin and Anton in their car from their hotel to the Museum. For some three and one-half hours, they toured the Museum and were taken for a tour of our Museum. Bob Ginn gave them a Docent’s tour of the Museum. He thought the two were more courteous than curious. He said that Sasha listened to the history of the Group while Anton wandered away seeking vantage points to photograph. After Bob explained the 25, 30, then 35 mission requirement, Sasha commented that the Russians had no such relief – only death at the end of their “tour,” They were most interested in the map and graphics associated with the shuttle missions. With the approval of our Executive Director, the two Russians were given a tour of the B-17 by Larry Sander. They focused on the cockpit and the aircraft controls without much interest in the capabilities of the aircraft to carry out its designed functions. At the end of the Museum tour, Sasha expressed a desire to look at a part of the Pima Museum display. Bob, accompanying them, said they headed first of all to the SR-71 shooting many pictures. Passing by the Presidential Aircraft, they video taped trainer row (T-33, T-28, T-38’s). Ginn reported that Sasha said “we don’t need any new bombers … there are no longer reasons for secrets. We all know everything.” Ginn responded, “don’t be too sure.” At completion of their time at the Museum, we presented them four books:
They also were given:
Our Russian guests then presented us with a beautiful model of an SU-37 and a handsome multi-function wristwatch. This was an interesting experience. I am certain the Russians had a productive journey to Tucson to see our Museum and to have learned more about FRANTIC than appears to be available in the Russian literature. This was in part fulfilling the Museum’s responsibility as an educational institution. John S. Warner |
