Title: Spitfire Vb 57 GvIAP, Kuban, new photo to me. Post by: Troy Smith on May 01, 2020, 04:24:46 AM while seaching ava.org.ru, I have tried using google and added in the Cyrillic for Spitfire "Спитфайр" and Hurricane "Харрикейн" from http://ava.org.ru/iap/57g.htm (http://ava.org.ru/iap/57g.htm) this image is well know, and there has been debate over the lightning flash, being reported as yellow, as seen here (http://ava.org.ru/iap/57g/spitfire-5b_ep210_538_prof.png) and then being cleaned off. (http://ava.org.ru/iap/57g/spit5b.jpg) but also in the link is this, which is new too me (http://ava.org.ru/iap/57g/spitfire_en311_529.jpg) Spitfire 529, which is interesting as it shows another plane in the unit, from the other side, with position and style of the board number (very similar) and a not removed lightning flash. Now, could vaguely make out the start of the serial, 'E' so I opened the image in a new tab and tried enlarging ...and then noticed the image name http://ava.org.ru/iap/57g/spitfire_en311_529.jpg the EN311 is the interesting bit, now from the Spitfire production site EN311 is a Mk.IX, but EP311 is a Mk.Vb, sent to USSR http://www.airhistory.org.uk/spitfire/p038.html (http://www.airhistory.org.uk/spitfire/p038.html) Quote EP311 Vb CBAF M46 33MU 20-6-42 82MU 6-7-42 Canada 3-12-42 USSR 1-3-43 I presume there is a note in unit records of the board number/serial tie up? I shall contact PG Monster and ask, but always a treat when a new photo surfaces. see also https://lend-lease.net/articles-en/spitfires-over-the-kuban/ (https://lend-lease.net/articles-en/spitfires-over-the-kuban/) Quote It was in this time frame that the regiment’s distinguishing symbol, a depiction of the Guards badge, began to appear on the horizontal stabilizers of the Russified Spitfires. The other distinguishing mark of the regiment was a yellow lightning bolt down the entire side of the fuselage, which began to appear when the regiment was still fighting in I-16s. The lightning bolt also appeared on the regiment’s aircraft later when it began to fight in the American P-39, and survived on several airframes of one version when later they were handed over to a PVO (protivo-vozdushnaya oborona—air defense) regiment. the entire article is well worth a read. Title: Re: Spitfire Vb 57 GvIAP, Kuban, new photo to me. Post by: PG monster on May 05, 2020, 01:37:08 PM Hi,
I preserved that filename sent by M.Bykov guru. Surely, if I'll ask him about the number he will answer as always "it was long time ago in faraway galactica, so I don't remember". Sorry. Title: Re: Spitfire Vb 57 GvIAP, Kuban, new photo to me. Post by: Troy Smith on May 29, 2020, 01:15:37 AM On one of my many searches, this turned up
http://vvs.hobbyvista.com/ModelGallery/spitfire.php (http://vvs.hobbyvista.com/ModelGallery/spitfire.php) Quote "1/72 Airfix Spitfire Vb representing EN911 of 57 GIAP, Kuban' area, spring 1943 (http://vvs.hobbyvista.com/ModelGallery/Ruchkovsky/Spitfire/SpitMkV_W529_5.jpg) while not exactly stunning evidence, that this quotes EN911 , and, http://www.airhistory.org.uk/spitfire/p037.html (http://www.airhistory.org.uk/spitfire/p037.html) Quote EN911 Vb CBAF M46 38MU 3-6-42 76MU 4-7-42 City of Derby 1-11-42 USSR 10-1-43 Thought worth a mention. Modeller does not state his source, and the other Spitfire model looks, not very believable. Title: Re: Spitfire Vb 57 GvIAP, Kuban, new photo to me. Post by: Massimo Tessitori on May 29, 2020, 01:24:22 PM Do you need to ask Ruckovsky? I'm in contact with him. I suppose that this type of informations is from Ilya Grinberg.
Regards Massimo |