HE 177 long range bomber deployment

[fcam1387]

Hi

In the 1941 campaign, the HE 177 squadrons are shown as never being deployed to the eastern front. Is this correct? My understanding is that they conducted several deep raids into Russian territory during the war.

Regards

[supersixfour]

Looks like KG1 (Stab, I. and II. Gruppe) , operating from East Prussia, converted into He 177 November 1943 onwards until August 1944 when they were grounded.
On 20 July 1944 all KG1's 70 He 177 bombers made a raid against Velikiye Luki.

I./KG50 with 20 He 177s did some transport and bombing missions around Stalingrad in Dec 42-Jan 43.

[Omat]

Hello

A small note: US B-17 Bomber were destroyed (47 B-17) by a German attack on the airfields in Russia. The He-177 participated. The US-Bombers were part of the of Operation Frantic the Shuttle bombing missions.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Frantic

https://www.airforcemag.com/article/0311poltava/

https://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=346

The well-planned German attack was led by Oberstleutnant Wilhelm Antrup of KG 55 and carried out by He 111Hs and Ju 88s of KG 4, KG 53, KG 55, and KG 27 operating from bases at Minsk. The operation was nicknamed Zaunkoenig. After the He 111s left, the Ju 88s strafed the field at low altitude. He 177s from Night Reconnaissance Squadrons performed target reconnaissance, pathfinder duties and bomb damage assessment. There were no German losses