The wings of 714

[Massimo Tessitori]

Hi,
the wings of this Il-2KR show something strange; wide parts of the outer wings appear lighter and more gloss that the remaining part of the plane.


Something similar can be seen on one wing of this Il-2KR, probably of the same unit.


What could it be the reason? An antimimetic marking? The replacing of the fabric skinning due to problems of peeling off?
The plane had wooden wings and was probably built in factory n.1 in early/mid 1943, while the photo of 714 is of October 1943, too early for a winter painting.

Regards
Massimo

[learstang]

I think it is a replacement - either because of the wing fabric problem or battle damage (probably the fabric problem).  In the second photograph it looks like they're actually working on the wings.  The left wing looks like it has the reinforcing spars on top of the fabric; this may all be field retrofitting to solve the fabric problem.

Regards,

Jason