I-16 with VVS isignia

[Audrius]

hello,
probably most of you are aware with the picture of really nice I-16 (type10) with very odd camo and VVS insignia on the tail.
It could be found in "In Action" for example.




This I-16 was captured by Germans in the beginning of GPW.

On the recent days on *bay another picture of the same a/c was tracked. This one:



Nice, isn't it?
It seems that German solders has tried to tear off the VVS insignia , but left it.  So we have a beautiful prototype for a model and color profile.

BTW, what is your ideas regarding camo? Was painted with green over the white or vice versa?

p.s.
and of course we got a "nose" of our beloved Mig in the background

BR Audrius

[Massimo Tessitori]

Hi,
the darker color looks added on. So, the base color could be white (or very light grey, or silver).
This is a bit strange, because the style of photos gives the idea of summer 1941 with abundance of Russian captured planes and wrecks. So, when and why the I-16 was painted with a light color? Was this the use of any flight school?
And who knows if the winged symbol means this?
Thank you for sharing this image, Audrius. I love this plane.
Massimo

[Audrius]

hi Massimo
this sign on the tail resembles very much the insignia of VVS.

It was a difference in signs depending on the speciallity inside of VVS.

This profile of the same I-16 was published InAction.



BR Audrius

[Massimo Tessitori]

Hi,
thank you.
I suppose that the plane had some non mimetic overall silver finish with marking for demonstrative flights, and was camouflaged in an hurry at the war outbreak.
The abundance of trainers let me think that this was from a flight school. Is it possible to know where the images were taken?
Massimo