Sovietwarplanes

Hi,
This is P-39K-1 of Boris B. Glinka from 45 IAP, total score 27+2 victories.
Following info is from the V. Roman?s book Airacobras over Kuban. The 45 IAP was sent to front on February 18, 1943 with mixed armament ? the 1st and 3rd squadron had Airacobras, the 2nd squadron had Kittyhawks. This serial no. 24415 as well as serial no. 24403 of his brother Dimitry were among these first Airacobras in the unit.
March 9, 1943 - the 45 IAP started combat operations.

Following picture is from the book Airacobras over Kuban by V. Roman:
(http://www.airaces.narod.ru/all15/glinkab0.jpg)
Russian text says: "On 24415 ... red star is poorly distinguishable on the dark green... (enhanced by retouch)."

end of April - the 45 IAP was withdrawn from the front to be re-armed with new P-39M and N versions.
April 28, 1943 - this Cobra of S/N: 24415 together with another planes was sent to 16 GIAP on.
June 17, 1943 - he got his HSU order (for 15 victories).

This profile shows plane of Boris B. Glinka as it looks in April 1943 during fights over Kuban (10+2 victories by the end of April). However, it is not known whether there were some victory stars painted on the left side of the fuselage. Photo shows only the right side of the fuselage.
(http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t518/66misos/P-39_Glinka%20Brothers/140127_P-39K-1_BB-Glinka_RIGHT_02_zps7049ad16.jpg)

Regards,
     66misos

Hi,
This is P-39K-1 of Dimitry B. Glinka from 45 IAP, total score 50 victories.
Following info is from the V. Roman?s book Airacobras over Kuban. The 45 IAP was sent to front on February 18, 1943 with mixed armament ?the 1st and 3rd squadron had Airacobras, the 2nd squadron had Kittyhawks. This serial no. 24403 as well as serial no. 24415 of his brother Boris were among these first Airacobras in the unit.
March 9, 1943 - the 45 IAP started combat operations.
March 12 - Dimitry was shot down. He landed on the fuselage without insuries, but his first Airacobra S/N: 24410 had to be written off ? it was the first ?soviet? K version Cobra lost in combat. By the end of March he had 16 victories (of which 12 were over Kuban) and got his first HSU order.
April 15 - he was again shot down (his second Airacobra S/N:?, B/N:?).
April ? photosession with his third Airacobra P-39K-1, S/N: 24403, B/N: 21. Quotation from V. Roman book: ?Interesting coincidence ? ace won his 21st victory on April 21 on the plane of board no. 21 (serial no. 42-4403). Kuban, end of April 1943.?

Following picture is from the book Airacobras over Kuban by V. Roman:
(http://airaces.narod.ru/all1/glinkad12.jpg)

Picture of D.B. Glinka and part of the profile in the following analysis are from the book Airacobras over Kuban by V. Roman:
(http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t518/66misos/P-39_Glinka%20Brothers/glinkad9b_zpse8058213.jpg)

End of April - 45 IAP was withdrawn from front to be re-armed with new P-39M and N versions.
May 26 - unit returned to the front.
June 18 - 45 IAP was renamed to 100 GIAP.
July 16 - P-39K-1 S/N: 24403 return from remont to unit and fought another month, untill August 9, 1943. It was the last K version in unit.
Summer ? leading pilots received new P-39N-0 and N-1 models while old Ks and Ls were given to new young pilots. D.B.Glinka has his fourth Airacobra, version:?, S/N:?, B/N:?
August 24, 1943 - D.B. Glinka got his 2nd HSU order for 29 victories. He was the highest scoring soviet pilot over Kuban.

This profile shows plane of Dimitry B. Glinka as it looks on April 1943, during fights over Kuban (14th victory on April 10, 15th and 16th victory on April 15).
(http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t518/66misos/P-39_Glinka%20Brothers/140127_P-39K-1_DB-Glinka_LEFT_01_zps09ca59ea.jpg)

Regards,
   66misos

Hi Misos,
it's really an excellent work. The drawings look excellent and the research accurate. I hope that you will extend your pages on the site with these new artworks.
Just a typing error: the year 1943 has became 1934.
The ciphers of n. 24415 looks different, more rounded on the photo, as if they had been repainted by Soviets.
Regards
Massimo

It looks that the popeller of Dmitrii Glinka's P-39K did't have "Aeroprop" emblems:

(http://airfighters.ru/glinkad13.jpg)
From "Airacobras over Kuban '" book by V. Roman

Other photos from April 1943 photo session:

(http://airfighters.ru/glinkad12.jpg)
From "Airacobras over Kuban '" book by V. Roman

(http://airfighters.ru/glinkad11.jpg)
From "Airacobras over Kuban '" book by V. Roman

(http://airfighters.ru/glinkad9-1.jpg)
From "Airacobras over Kuban '" book by V. Roman

(http://airfighters.ru/glinkad10-1.jpg)
From "Airacobras over Kuban '" book by V. Roman

three stars with white centers could relate to April 15th:
"15 апреля 1943 года старший лейтенант Д.Б. Глинка сбил 3 самолета противника в одном вылете."

HTH'
KL
  

Hi,
thank you for your comments. I corrected 1934 to 1943 in my posts above. Plus I slightly changed profile of B.B. Glinka's Airacobra:
- no. "5" on the tail is overpainted and slightly different from others,
- logo and text on propeller blade is removed,
- repainting of circle under the star on the fuselage is changed from "US" green to some "Russian" green, in this case A-24m (very similar to AMT-4). Photo shows it as very little brighter than surrounding fuselage color (OD),
- repainting of circle under the star on the right underwing is changed from "US" grey to some "Russian" blue, in this case A-28m.

(http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t518/66misos/P-39_Glinka%20Brothers/140128_P-39K-1_BB-Glinka_RIGHT_03_zps41da6192.jpg)

Regards,
   66misos

Hi Misos,
There is a discrepancy between the number of D. Glinkas victories on your profile (14 stars) and the number that can be found in the request for his third "Order of the Red Banner" which was awarded on April 22, 1943.

(http://pobeda.elar.ru/images/kuban/dop/4-s.jpg)

This document also mentions 3 planes shot down on April 15th, IMHO, represented by 3 stars with white dots.  Following photoshop analysis shows that there is enough room on the detachable gun compartment panel for three rows of stars (21 stars):

(http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t518/66misos/P-39_Glinka%20Brothers/glinkad9b_zpse8058213.jpg)

Conclusion - photo session was staged between April 22 and May 26 (when D. Glinka again scored 3 victories in one day), probably end of April.  During the session D. Glinka posed with two Orders of the Red Banner only, although he has already been awarded GSS Red Star on April 24th (for 16 victories) and third Order of the Red Banner on April 22 (for 20 victories).  21st victory on april 21 is mentioned in the photo caption here:

(http://airfighters.ru/glinkad12.jpg)
From "Airacobras over Kuban '" book by V. Roman

IMHO, victory stars on your profile are too big and there should be 3 rows of stars for the total of 21 victories.  
HTH,
KL      

Check here:
http://www.warheroes.ru/hero/hero.asp?Hero_id=500

Boris Glinka had 10 victories when awarded GSS Red star on May 24, 1943.  All 10 victories were scorred by April 15th 1943.

Then consider what I proposed in previous post - Dmitrii Glinka had 21 victories painted on his P-39 by the end of April 1943, when he became GSS.   With this, total of 31 stars for both brothers makes sense in A.S. Yakovlev's "Tsel zhizni":

На фюзеляжах боевых машин старшего лейтенанта Дмитрия Глинки и лейтенанта Бориса Глинки были нарисованы 31 звезда, обозначавшие количество сбитых братьями немецких самолётов.

HTH,
KL

Hi KL,
thank you very much for posting that fantastic document. ::) It confirms or at least supports mentioned "triple 21" coincidence.
Yes, my Photoshop analysis shows enough space for 3x7 victory stars - I overlayed picture of Glinka with 11 stars behind with picture of another Cobra and scaled it to exactly match panel lines and screws. And finally copied additional stars to empty spaces to get overall picture.

Picture of D.B. Glinka and part of the profile in the following analysis are from the book Airacobras over Kuban by V. Roman.
I added another line of 7 stars on top here.
(http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t518/66misos/P-39_Glinka%20Brothers/glinkad9b2_zpsfb292e80.jpg)
There are discrepancies due to curvature and perspective, but there could be even 21 stars. Yes, I made 14 victory stars too big. I change them to 21 bit smaller stars.

I do not know how to paint there 31 stars mentioned by Yakovlev. I did not see such picture. However I would like to identify Glinka's plane with 24+ stars http://sovietwarplanes.com/board/index.php?topic=1367.msg9650#msg9650 (http://sovietwarplanes.com/board/index.php?topic=1367.msg9650#msg9650) It should be N or Q version.
Regards,
     66misos

Hi Misos,
You did an excellent job with your Photoshop analysis!!!

IMHO, there is absolutely no doubt that Dmitriy Glinka's Airacobra originally had 21 victory stars.  Everything fits:  photographic evidence (although clipped  :D), evidence from documents and events/chronology.

Back to your first post and Boris Glinka's Airacobra:


First, there is a wrong date for HSU award.  Boris Glinka became a HSU and was awarded with the Red Star medal on May 24, 1943, 30 days after his younger brother Dmitriy.  While Dmitriy?s award was for 16 victories, Boris was awarded for 10 victories and 200 combat actions.

Указом Президиума Верховного Совета СССР от 24 мая 1943 года за 200 боевых вылетов и 10 сбитых самолётов противника лейтенанту Глинке Борису Борисовичу  присвоено звание Героя Советского Союза с вручением ордена Ленина (№ 9592) и медали "Золотая Звезда" (№ 991).

Second, from Yakovlev?s note it is clear that Boris Glinka?s Airacobra did have victory stars ?painted on its fuselage? .  It is also clear from Yakovlev?s note that the sum (total?) of the victory stars on Dmitriy's and Boris' Airacobras was 31.

We can make an analogy with A. Pokrishkin and D. Glinka.  Both aces had victory stars painted after they were awarded with HSU title.  On both Pokrishkin?s and D. Glinka?s Airacobra?s victory stars were all neatly painted at once and represented number of victories at the time of the award.  It is clear that D. Glinka?s Airacobra had victory stars painted only on the left side of its nose.  This was probably true for Pokrishkin?s Airacobra too.

So, we can assume (or make an educated guess) that Boris Glinka?s Airacobra had 10 victory stars painted on the left side of its nose?  You can make a left side profile of Boris Glinka?s Airacobra using D. Glinka?s stars as a template, same size and spacing.  Say, 2 rows with 5 stars in each row?.

Cheers,
KL

Hi,
here are updated profiles of Glinka brothers Airacobras.

This profile with 21 victory stars is based on my Photoshop analysis and KL's comments, see posts above.
(http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t518/66misos/P-39_Glinka%20Brothers/140130_P-39K-1_DB-Glinka_LEFT_21st_01_zps7113dc53.jpg)

There is no known photo showing B.B.Glinka's P-39 from the left side. This profile is assumption (educated guess?) using victory stars from P-39 of his brother Dimitry as analogy (same type, size and top centered position).
(http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t518/66misos/P-39_Glinka%20Brothers/140130_P-39K-1_BB-Glinka_LEFT_10st_01_zps763f888a.jpg)

Regards,
     66misos

Hi Misos,
both profiles look very good!  :)
Also, your profiles are best researched...

Interesting how both Romanenko and Zlobin have D. Glinka's Airacobra with 14 stars:

(http://scalemodels.ru/images/2013/09/1378120782_glinkad6.jpg)
From "Airacobras over Kuban '" book by V. Roman

(http://scalemodels.ru/images/2013/09/1378120779_glinka_d2.jpg)

If interested in awards you should use http://www.podvignaroda.ru/
It's an official site where you can find scans of original documents.

I checked there Boris Glinka's awards and the chronology is as follows:
-  Application for Boris Glinka's second "red Banner" was subbmitted on April 17 and he was awarded on April 22. This award was for 7 victories between March 19 and April 15.  By April 15 Boris had a total of 10 victories.  On same day, April 22, D. Glinka receives "Red Banner" for 20 victories
-  D. Glinka receives HSU title on April 24 for 16 victories by April 15.  By April 24 he already has 21 victories.
-  Application for Boris Glinka's HSU title was submitted on May 04 and he received award on May 24.  HSU title is for the same 10 victories.

Photosession was staged at the end of April when younger Dmitrii had 21 victories, 3 "red Banners" and HSU title while older Boris had 10 victories and two "Red Banners".
Later, end of May, Glinka brothers were photographed by Ogonek reporters.  Ogonek published that brothers had 33 victories at the time of visit:

(http://ilpilot.narod.ru/aviaogonek/_img/25-43_3.jpg)

Last photo shows Dmitrii congratulating Boris for just received HSU title.  
  

Hi KL,
thank you.  ;)
Note that Cobras with visible board numbers have grey propeller blades and 30mm cannon without cover while Cobras above (from Ogonek) have cannon with tubular cover and at least one has black propeller blades with yellow tips. Of course, board numbers are not visible. Apparently different Cobras.

Regards,
       66misos

Hi,
I posted this profiles today also at http://vif2ne.ru/nvi/forum/0/0.htm (http://vif2ne.ru/nvi/forum/0/0.htm)
I received this comment from ValeryR (Valery Roman):
"Прежде всего, Вы разместили в Вашей ветке около десятка фотографий и рисунков из моей книги, причем без какой-либо ссылки на источник. Я не давал Вам разрешения делать это, поэтому считаю подобный поступок воровством, и требую снять указанные фото и рисунки."
Translated:
First of all, you have placed in your branch about a dozen photographs and drawings from my book, without any reference to the source. I did not give you permission to do it, so I think such an act is theft, and requires the removal of these photos and drawings.

Regards,
    66misos

Hi Misos,
really a pity. Anyway the research is correct and it is good for publication.
Are those photos available on other sources? If not, it's better to remove them leaving only a reference to the book and page where to find them.
Have we to remove some images from the article on the site?
Regards
Massimo

Hi Massimo,

I wrote at http://vif2ne.ru/nvi/forum/0/0.htm (http://vif2ne.ru/nvi/forum/0/0.htm):
... photos are from following Internet sites:
http://airfighters.ru (http://airfighters.ru)
http://www.airaces.narod.ru (http://www.airaces.narod.ru)
http://pobeda.elar.ru (http://pobeda.elar.ru)
http://scalemodels.ru (http://scalemodels.ru)
http://ilpilot.narod.ru (http://ilpilot.narod.ru)
And that refference is here http://sovietwarplanes.com/board/index.php?topic=1740.msg13908#msg13908 (http://sovietwarplanes.com/board/index.php?topic=1740.msg13908#msg13908)
"...Following info is from the V. Roman?s book Airacobras over Kuban..."

V. Roman's answer contains:
"airaces.narod.ru - thieves site. Link to it - is inappropriate and indecent.
Specially for you and others who wish to upload pictures and drawings from the book fairly, with permission, I put there the bank page with content and email location. Under all photos (except newspaper at the end) on your branch, please write V.Roman collection, or "Airacobras over Kuban '" book by v.Roman."
I am in direct email communication with V. Roman now and trying to confirm solutions acceptable for both parties.

Regards,
    66misos

Dear all,

I have Roman's book where the picture above was published; in this version the reflection light over the kill markings is not so bright and I suspect there were not kill markings hidden by the reflection; to say better in my opinion the kill markings on Glinka's plane were in three rows (the first is not visible) with 4+4+7 stars.

I can post this picture, but I don't want to break the law of copyright (tell me Massimo).

Anyway 66misos did a great job  :o

Flavio

Hi Misos,
so, there is hope that you find a compromise. Very well, it would be the best thing by far.
Anyway, it would be interesting to know if he owns  the one original print/negative, or a print from a negative of a public archive.
Regards
Massimo

Hi Flavio,
I think you can post the image, with the due credit.
Regards
Massimo

Hi Misos and Massimo,
I have modified all my posts in this thread as per Valeriy Romanenko's request.

IMHO, author reaction was inappropriate.  It's not fair to pinpoint this forum, now when those photos have been already posted all over the Russian internet.  Moreover, (illegal, I know...) scans of V. Roman's book are also widely available...  What's the point of his request?  Misos did research, made profiles, modified them several times and all that for free.  I have spent couple of hours searching those official documents and I posted my findings for free...


Hi Flavio,
I also have V. Roman's book, thanks to my wallet.  You are right, first row on the photo may have only 4 victory stars.  In the end, V. Romanenko could probably date this series of photos and solve the mystery.

Regards,
KL  

Here my scan
(http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s499/Flaviosil/GlinkaP391-a.jpg)
From book "Airacobras over Kuban" by V. Roman, pag.1

Flavio

I agree that it is excessive, but I hope that the credits will be sufficient to satisfy him.
Anyway, if I don't miss, it is allowed to take small parts of a text for review purposes, and I think this could be true  for photos too; I suppose that a research thread on his subject could be seen as a sort of review of it.
If someone knows more on the review right, I'm interested to know his point.
Regards
Massimo

Hi Flavio,
15 victory stars are unlikelly, because D. Glinka scored his 15th victory on March 30th and his 16th victory on April 1st.

According to the book "Airacobras over Kuban" by V. Roman, photo session was staged in April.   Comment under one of the photos says that it was "the end of April".

That's right KL,
however in the photo are visible 11 markings only (4+7). We can guess the 1st row but the total never will be 21.
Flavio

It's most likely exactly what we see:  11 victory stars!

Glinka scored his 11th victory on Sept 6, 1942.  Interestingly enough, Glinka shot down 3 Ju-87 Stukas on May 5, 1942!!!  3 victory stars with dots are representing those 3 Stukas...  Glinka scored his 12th victory and at the same time his first victory flying an Airacobra on March 10, 1943.

This means that the portrait was taken much earlier than the photos showing Airacobra No 21.  It is also clear that Glinka's uniform is different on his portrait photos.
IMHO, there were two photo sessions:

- first photo session (when portraits were made) with his first Airacobra staged at the beginning of March 1943, before March 10th
- second photo session with the Airacobra No 21 staged at the end of April

Contrary to the book "Airacobras over Kuban" by V. Roman,  portraits were made in March 1942, not in April and Glinka was a lieutenant, not a captain at that time.

Cheers,
KL

Interesting notes KL.
Look at the photo below, for sure the same plane of that with victory stars; the only things I can say is that the plane flown by Glinka with victory stars on the nose was a P-39K model with serial number 42-440x. Glinka's rank is barely visible under the sweater (I am not an expert I don't know if it correspond to a Lieutenant or Captain).

Flavio

(http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s499/Flaviosil/GlinkaP391-b.jpg)
From book "Airacobras over Kuban" by V. Roman

I am not an expert too, but internet helps.  8)

According to the official military regulations issued in June 1941, collar patches (which were the insignia of the officer's rank in addition to sleeve markings) for various ranks looked as follows:

- junior lieutenant - 1 square
- lieutenant - 2 squares
- senior lieutenant - 3 squares
- captain - 1 rectangle
- mayor - 2 rectangles

From:  http://istmat.info/node/26063

Regardless of the sweater, it is clear that Dmitriy Glinka was a lieutenant at the time when portraits were made. Again, contrary to the book "Airacobras over Kuban" by V. Roman.  D. Glinka was promoted to the rank of a captain, after being awarded HSU title.

New shoulder epaulettes were introduced in January 1943, first in Guards units, later in regular units.  In Ogonek photos, both brothers had new uniforms with shoulder epaulettes.  45 iap pilots received new uniforms in May 1943, at the time when regiment was withdrawn from the combat and when new P-39Ns were received.

(http://ilpilot.narod.ru/aviaogonek/_img/25-43_3.jpg)

Regards,
KL  

Thank you KL, for your reply.

This is how Glinka's collar Patches would have appeared.
(http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s499/Flaviosil/412041204210_420041A041A04100_41B0435043904420435043D0430043D04420.png)

Flavio

This is how new 1943 shoulder boards (or epauletes?) of the VVS Captain looked:

(http://antikvariat.ru/upload/resize_cache/iblock/070/660_660_1/img_8693.jpg)

(http://ilpilot.narod.ru/aviaogonek/_img/25-43_3.jpg)

Hi,
I tried to put events and planes in one sequence.
According to the book Airacobras over Kuban by V. Roman 45 IAP started combat operations with only three P-39K with S/N: 42-440x:
42-4401 in V. Roman?s book is photo of this plane without board number and with already two victory stars,
42-4403 participated at least in the 2nd photo session,
42-4408
All other P-39K were 42-441x or higher.

March 9, 1943 - the 45 IAP started combat operations,
March 10th - his 12th victory and at the same time his first victory flying an Airacobra,
March 12th - Dimitry as Leutenant was shot down in his first Airacobra S/N: 24410,
1st photo session - Portraits of D.B.Glinka as Leutenant with P-39K S/N: 42-440x behind and with P-39 with 11 (8+3) victory stars behind are made. No board number visible.
March 30th - his 15th victory,

April 1st - his 16th victory,
April 15th - he was shot down in his second Airacobra S/N: ?, B/N: ?,
after April 21st ? 2nd photo session with his third Airacobra P-39K-1, S/N: 24403, B/N: 21. Quotation from the book Airacobras over Kuban by V. Roman: ?Interesting coincidence ? ace won his 21st victory on April 21 on the plane of board no. 21 (serial no. 42-4403). Kuban, end of April 1943.? No victory stars are visible,
April 24th ? his 1st HSU award,
End of April - 45 IAP was withdrawn from the front to be re-armed with new P-39M and N versions,

May 26 - unit returned to the front,
End of May - 3rd photo session ? Glinka brothers (D.B.Glinka already as Captian) were photographed by Ogonek reporters. Ogonek published that brothers had 33 victories at the time of visit. Cobras from Ogonek have cannon with tubular cover and at least one has black propeller blades with yellow tips. Apparently new Cobras of M and N versions. No serial number, no board number, no victory stars are visible.

I am starting to have doubts whether there were any victory stars painted P-39K "21" 24403. There is no photo confirming it, even sequence of events does not support it very much. It is mentioned only in Yakovlev's memoirs.

Regards,
    66misos

Hi,

So, D.B.Glinka started combat operation within 45 IAP on March 9th. After 3 days, on March 12th he is shot down in P-39K ?24410?, plane is damaged and written off. He flew another P-39K ?2440x? (on photo with 8+3 victory stars) for month and on April 15th he was shot down again. He spent next days (week) in hospital. He return to fly on about April 20th or 21st in P-39K ?24403? (on photo without victory stars). After another 10 days 45 IAP is withdrawn from the front. After return he flew new P-39M or N version (on photo from Ogonek).

Quite high ?turnaround? of P-39s. Not very much time to paint victory stars regularly on them.

On the other side it shows quite high protection and probability to survive for pilot. I read that soviet pilots considered P-39 safe even after being hit and preferred forced landing rather than bale out. D.B. Glinka at least once, Sukhov twice, P-39 in Finland museum (combination of two force landed Cobras) etc.

Regards,
    66misos

Hi Misos,
it's good to organize information, but you may consider following:

-  Glinka wasn't necessarily shot down in "his" Airacobra. Sometimes he flew several times in a day -  in one extreme case he flew 9 combat missions in a single day. Obviously he flew planes that were ready/available, there was no time to wait for "his" Airacobra to be prepared/repaired for the mission.  Airacobra no. 21 (serial no. 42-4403) could have been "Glinka's" plane before he was shot down on April 15.  It is only your assumption that Glinka started flying no. 21 on April 21, after he returned to the regiment.  

-  Gun compartment panel from "his" old damaged plane could be reused on "his" new plane. This was definitively a case with the same panel on two  Airacobras flown by G. Rechkalov.  

I've read that it was sometimes difficult to bail out of the Kobra and there was the possibility of being struck by the tailplane (although wasn't this last a possibility with many aeroplanes?).  Perhaps this led to Soviet pilots preferring to crash land rather than bail out.

Regards,

Jason

Hi KL,
you are absolutely right, it was only my assumption. Unfortunately without access to archives or without confirmation by somebody with acces to archives we can only assume, guess, believe.  :-[
Regards,
    66misos

Quality and reliability of profiles also depend on available photographic evidence.

In this case photographic evidence is "sketchy" - there is only one photo of Boris Glinka's Airaobra taken from the "wrong, right side", there is one photo showing Dmitry Glinka's No21 (again showing wrong, right side).  This means that you can only make profiles of the right (less interesting...) side of both Airacobras.  Everything else, like 14 stars or 21 stars is a guesswork...  :(

At least we have figured that D. Glinka's portraits were made in early March, not end of April.  Also, there is a probability that Airacobra no. 21 (serial no. 42-4403) originally had 11 stars painted on its left side gun compartment panel...  we only need confirmation that D. Glinka flew on this plane starting from early/mid March...  ;)

Cheers,
KL    

Hi,
here is another profile of D.B. Glinka's Cobra "21".
It is based on two photos - the first one showing him as Leutenant with P-39K S/N: 42-440x behind and the second one with P-39 with 11 (8+3) victory stars behind while no board number visible and on assumption that D.B. Glinka started flying no. "21" already in March, e.g. S/N: 42-440x represents  42-4403.

(http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t518/66misos/P-39_Glinka%20Brothers/140209_P-39K-1_DB-Glinka_LEFT_11st_01_zpsbfd1c4d1.jpg)

I have got email from V.Roman that it is OK how we do it now with photos from his book, e.g. we put refference there as requested.
Unfortunately he did not response to my question about 11 victory stars on P-39K-1 "21" S/N: 42-4403.
Regards
     66misos

Hi 66misos,

this is exactly how I imagine P-39 42-4403, excellent profile!
In my opinion this plane was used by Glinka to obtain his three victories of 15 April '43; probably the plane already displayed 8 kill markings (claimed by other pilots, who knows ??? ?) and Glinka just added his three kill markings with a white dot inside (or something similar to a 3D pentagonal object).

Flavio

Hi Misos, excellent profile!
I would date it as early March 1943 (not April 1943...),  11 victories were all scored in 1942 when D. Glinka flew Yak-1.  3 stars with dots are for 3 Ju-87 Stukas shot down on May 05, 1942.
Cheers,
KL

Hi,
thank you for your kind posts.  :D

KL,
that last profile already was dated as March 1943. I hope I can use some of your outcomes and formulations for P-39 update on mig3 pages.

Regards,
    66misos

Hi Misos,
I've uploaded your article on the site. Please have a look.
http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/lendlease/p-39/p-39.html (http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/lendlease/p-39/p-39.html)
There is a citation in cyrillic, it would be better to write the English translation.
Regards
Massimo

Hi Misos,

the same number 31 also appears in the text that is posted at http://airfighters.ru/glinka_d.php
paragraph at the end of the text and before the list of D. Glinka victories says:

Спустя некоторое время и старший брат, Борис Глинка, был также удостоен звания Героя Советского Союза. Беззаветно сражаясь за нашу Советскую Родину, братья Глинки к этому времени сбили 31 немецкий самолёт. Дмитрий сбил 21 немецкую машину, и Борис - 10.

signed by "Главное политическое управление Красной Армии"  ???  (maybe "Krasnaya Zvezda" newspaper?)

This text was probably Yakovlev's source.  How would, otherwise, Yakovlev know about the Glinka brothers score that was actual between April 21st and May 26th?   ::)  Although, Yakovlev may have visited Kursk front (not Kuban!!!) in June 1943 related to the famous "срыв обшивки" problem:

http://militera.lib.ru/memo/russian/yakovlev-as/25.html

about Glinka brothers in Yakovlev's book:

http://militera.lib.ru/memo/russian/yakovlev-as/27.html

HTH,
KL   

Hi,
I received mail from Valery Roman where he wrote:
- he think we are right with 11 victory stars originally painted on D.B.Glinka's P-39K-1 "21" S/N: 42-4403,
- he also think that crashed Cobra S/N: 42-4410 was only randomly flown, because D.B. Glinka always paint no. "21" on his planes. And that Glinka latter added another victory stars according to the actual score. But unfortunately is it not confirmed.

V. Roman looked for evidence about thoughts mentioned above in Russian archives, documents such Orders for fixing aircraft to pilots, or
financial documents about payments for 50 or 100 combat flights without accidents. But both types of documents from 45 IAP for spring 1943 are missing in archives. 
First one simply absents, second one - because D.B. Glinka fulfilled less than 50 cambat flights on 24410 or 24403.

Regards,
     66misos

Hi Misos,
your page about D.B. Glinka's Airacobras is very good.  :)

(http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/lendlease/p-39/misos/dbglinka10.jpg)

If this Airacobra has 28 victory stars, you may definitively date this movie as being made in June 1943.

- D. Glinka won his 28th victory on June 02, 1943
- 29th victory on June 16, 1943

Movie was made before 45 iap was renamed into 100 giap and before red "pilotkas" were introduced.

HTH,
KL

Very interesting and well done research on Glinka's planes,

Thank you 66misos,

Flavio

Hi,

I found in Tabachenko's book Pokryshkinskij Aviapolk http://sovietwarplanes.com/board/index.php?topic=1367.msg10178#msg10178 (http://sovietwarplanes.com/board/index.php?topic=1367.msg10178#msg10178) following info about Boris. B. Glinka.
On July 14, 1944, B.B. Glinka in rank of Major and as Commander of 16 GIAP was shot down in P-39N-1, serial no. 42-9215. Next months he spent in hospitals due to serious insures and he did not fly combat flights by the end of War.

Regards,
     66misos