The role of fighter aircraft of the 8th Air Army in protecting the skies over the Rostov region and Donbass in March - April 1943

The paper considers the actions of the fighter aviation of the 8th Air Army during the absence of offensive operations of the ground forces of the Southern Front to liberate the Rostov region and the territory of Donbass in March-April 1943. The combat potential of the fighter units and formations of the 8th Air Army in the Southern Front is analyzed, the key points where the timely actions of Soviet aviation played a decisive role in the battles in the skies over Rostov-on-Don and Bataysk during this period are highlighted, the exploits of Soviet fighter pilots who were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union were revealed. Thanks to the merits of the fighter aviation of the 8th Air Army, the combat potential of the Southern Front troops was preserved for the further liberation of the Rostov region.