plane id?

[exec228]

http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/pilots/tikhomirov/03-35shap-r.jpg
text reads:
"in the aircraft cockpit while preparation"

badger and me discussed the plane identification and cuncluded that it's hardly a soviet plane (at least with serial cockpit).
taking only serial production into account, we suppose that the most resembling cockpit is:
http://www.warbirdpictures.com/NavyBWZeros/A6M5-M52-19.jpg
http://www.warbirdpictures.com/NavyBWZeros/Zero-22.jpg

our hypothesis about this picture is:
1.a friend of Tikhomirov or friend of his friend served on Far East (man who gratuated from the same (flight) school?)
2.man on photo gets familiarised with reisen.
3.seat and stick are lifted to take-off position.
4.deep position of man photographed can be explained by absence of parachute under him.
5.photo was sent to Tikhomirov from that place.

what do you think about it?
________________________________

offtopic:
Tiknomirov's pages link to "Photos 4" with http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/pilots/tikhomirov/tikhomirov/tikhomirov6.htm link.

actual link of this page is http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/pilots/tikhomirov/tikhomirov6.htm

lastname of interviewed is tripled in wrong url, while must be only doubled.
________________________________

offtopic:
i'd like to thank Massimo Tessitori for publishing this interview.
it's great!
________________________________

offtopic:
http://www.geocities.jp/tokugawa_navy/C-photo.html
here's someone's attempt to colorise pics.

[Massimo Tessitori]

Hi, 
I've identified the plane, it's an Il-4. No doubt, it can give the idea of a Zero.
I'll have a look to the links of those pages, I know there is something wrong there.

Massimo

[exec228]

il-4 does match

[Massimo Tessitori]

Hi,
I've received some notes from Oleg Korytov, the author of the interview;

Hello, Massimo
Hmm? It sure does not look like Il-2 cocpit, and i had this doubt for some time,
but this photo came from photo album. It is possible that this shot was made
from 1 mtap, since at some time they used to be stationed on the same AB. What i
can also say - this is officer, and most likely he is sitting without chute (no
shoulder straps) and he wears a naval black uniform, BUT! i can see aiming
device which was never installed on Il-4! It looks more like Pbp-1b, wich was
commonly used on Il-2 single seated version. Soooo.... This is NOT Il-4? and NOT
Il-2? To prove this you can take a look two pics down - good view of a glass.
Steering sure looks more like bombers... May be we should ask some specialist?

Massimo

[exec228]

http://mkmagazin.almanacwhf.ru/avia/il_4.htm
can it be "28 idicator of radio-semi-compass"?

p.s.
mtap = minno-torpednyi aviapolk = mine(laying)/torpedo aviaregiment. can DB-3T torpplane have been modified by adding some torp sight?

[Massimo Tessitori]

Hi,
I suspected the same thing, but I wasn't able to find any confirmation. For sure, standard Il-4 didn't have the gunsight.
Massimo

[FPSOlkor]

http://mkmagazin.almanacwhf.ru/avia/il_4.htm
can it be "28 idicator of radio-semi-compass"?

p.s.
mtap = minno-torpednyi aviapolk = mine(laying)/torpedo aviaregiment. can DB-3T torpplane have been modified by adding some torp sight?

It does not look like it. Compare it also with photo of Mikhail Rossykhin - the same aiming device is visible. It is not possible for aiming device to be placed in Il-4 cabin, since there was no weapon to be used with it - it did not have unmanned guns, torpedoes (as well as bombs) were aimed and released by navigator, who had a special sight. 35 ShAP used to be armed with I-15 bis and Possibly with some other fighters. Could it be one? Although 1943 uniform... 

[Massimo Tessitori]

Hi,
looking again at the photo, I think to see both the radiocompass indicator as shown in the section and, on its background, an aiming device. I have no idea of the reason of this.
The cockpit looks not that of an old Polikarpov.
Massimo

[FPSOlkor]

Hi,
looking again at the photo, I think to see both the radiocompass indicator as shown in the section and, on its background, an aiming device. I have no idea of the reason of this.
The cockpit looks not that of an old Polikarpov.
Massimo

After long argument we came to the conclusion that this is a special modification of DB-3, modified for short dive bombing runs and for carrying underwing rockets. Device is called PAK(PAN?)-23. It is mentioned here
http://www.airwar.ru/history/locwar/finland/db3/db3.html):
http://www.airwar.ru/weapon/anur/ros82.html
http://www.airwar.ru/enc/bww2/opb5.html):

[Massimo Tessitori]

Hi,
that is interesting.
In your knowledge, this armament was carried only by early DB-3s, or on later Il-4s too?
Massimo

[FPSOlkor]

Hi,
that is interesting.
In your knowledge, this armament was carried only by early DB-3s, or on later Il-4s too?
Massimo

It seems that this arrangement was made during winter war in one regiment only. Perhaps in the beginning of the war also on some planes. Not enough data

[FPSOlkor]

It seems that this arrangement was made during winter war in one regiment only. Perhaps in the beginning of the war also on some planes. Not enough data

So far only one squad is identified with such aircraft in use^
3-d squadron of 85 BAP OsNaz.

[Massimo Tessitori]

Hi,
where was this unit located?
Massimo

[FPSOlkor]

Hi,
where was this unit located?
Massimo

This unit (former 12 detached DBAE was based at Pushkin AB, and was reformed into 85-th DBAP OsNaz on 1-st of February 1940. It primarily consisted of instructors and experienced specialists, and it had best results during entire finnish war. It was armed with 27 and 28 series aircraft.  What actually happened to it later i do not know. Anyway, the mistery remains - either this plane made it into 1943 with other regiment, or was it really modified later.  Massimo, have you chosen a pic to colorize?

[Massimo Tessitori]

Hi Oleg,
thank your for your information.
About images, probably I'll colorize the one of Yak-7. Only, I'm slowed down because I'm using part of my free time for a different thing. I'll keep you informed.
Massimo