Hi RuffMonk,
Although I don't play in arcade mode I felt the need to make small contribution to this topic. I wish the “sim camp” had someone with your enthusiasm. And let me say thank you for letting us know (it was some time ago) about all those extra airfields (was it 7 in total?) on Stalingrad map. Also, thank you for the Eastern Front air battle series by Christer Bergstrom.
Back to the topic at hand. Well, (un)fortunately for us (BoP players) the air power was heavily employed by Soviets at Korsun-Shevchenkovsky operation but was not decisive by any stretch of imagination. Their (Soviet) air power was provided by 2nd and 5th Air Armies and it was poorly integrated into the overall concept of operations. German air support included both tactical aviation and airlift assets and it came from General Seidemann's VIII Air Fleet. Because of the weather and shortage of improved airfields effective use of close air support was limited for both antagonists. Airlift assets were used extensively by the Germans in support of encircled corps. Ground attacks by the The Red Air Force were conducted whenever the weather allowed and numerous night attacks were carried out with individual aircraft. Some sources claim that effect of these attacks were chiefly psychological. Hmm? However, the threat to the German aerial supply operation was a constant danger, forcing the Germans at times to cancel air drops. Germans started the aerial supply operation on January 28th and it lasted until February 17th with occasional disruptions by weather and enemy fighter aircrafts. Korsun-Shevchenkovsky was the main airfield in the pocket and it was the lifeline of the encircled forces. It was supposed to be held at all cost. The Soviets repeatedly tried to shut down the airfield and disrupt the air lift with The Red Air Force. They were successful in that occasionally. In one night mission The Red Air force succeeded in shooting down several Ju-52 transport aircraft loaded with wounded. Fortunately for Germans it is believed that most Soviet air attacks were poorly conceived, haphazardly executed, and were not coordinated with the ground operations.
Perhaps, you can change that in you game scenarios
In summary, the support provided by Soviet tactical aviation during the Korsun-Shevchenkovsky Operation was not very effective. But, The Soviets did learn quickly and during Operation Bagration (Belorussia) Red Air Force ravaged German tank columns by well-executed air attacks. Go Sturmovik!!!
Perhaps you could look for the books written by Professor Emeritus John Erickson. He was (is) unsurpassed by anyone when it comes to the Great Patriotic War – 1941 to 1945. He was moral and intellectual giant!
Please read it for yourself about professor Erickson:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/ob...on-729741.html
http://tinyurl.com/3atafqq
(in case that long link doesn't work)
Good luck with you games and let us know when you switch to sim camp
Take care,
PlaviKit (my PSN)