Hi,
the colors and lines suggest an artwork of EP.
Regards
Massimo
Massimo, you are correct. I thought I had seen this before. See the following page:
http://vvs.hobbyvista.com/Markings/BigGuns/big_guns_2.phpThe profile on that page is a slightly later version of the one posted here, with EP having changed the yellow in the stars to white. Here is what he had to say about it:
Yak-9T "White 91"
113 GIAP
Viktor Orlov
autumn1943
Hero of the Soviet Union Kpt. Viktor Orlov spent most of his flying career in the famous 42 IAP of Maj. Shinkarenko, flying various Yak-9Ts. In September 1943 he was awarded the Gold Star HSU with 18+4 confirmed victories and reassigned to the 113 GIAP. In a wonderful ceremony on the 29th, Orlov was given this stupendous presentation Yak-9T, donated by the workers of the "Baydar" Collective Farm.
"White 91" wears a typical AMT-6/-4/-7 scheme of 1943, but featuring somewhat soft color demarcation lines on the upper surfaces. The Kremlin type national markings were trimmed beautifully in yellow, and the tactical numeral was white. The spinner was painted red and white, while the vertical fin/rudder were done in red. A Guards emblem was located on both sides of the engine cowling. The inscription was given in white.
Sadly, Kpt. Orlov was killed shortly after receiving this machine in an epic battle. On 9 December 1943 Orlov and his flight of six aircraft rushed to the rescue of a small group of Pe-2 bombers that had been cornered by more than fifty German fighters in the Kiev area. Fighting desperately, Orlov destroyed two Messerschmitts before his machine was fatally stricken. Although he successfully bailed out, Orlov was shot in his parachute by a German pilot and killed. His body was later recovered and subsequently buried in the Kiev Victory Park with a nice plaque describing his service.
And, about the yellow changed to white:
Looking over the information on "91" again, I have made some small changes to my earlier interpretation. I think the borders around the Kremlin type stars might in fact be white; a bit filthy, but white nonetheless. Other researchers who have looked at the photo more recently than myself have indicated that I did not execute the numeral correctly; I have amended it to suit their description.
