Searching info about La-5's or La-7 flown by Nikolai Mikhailovich Skomorokhov ?

[steph40]

Hi Steph,
red noses became very common on Lavochkins in late 1944 to avoid confusion with FW 190.  If your plane is of late 1943, I would leave a white nose.
Regards
Massimo

Thank you Massimo but I'm a little confused with the nose color  . I used the informations here http://massimotessitori.altervista.org/sovietwarplanes/pages/la5/la5/la5-57of164iap/la5-57of164iap.html and here http://ava.org.ru/iap/164.htm which suggest red nose.

Thanks to enlighten me, regards.
Stéph

[Massimo Tessitori]

Hi Steph,
I would know where the information on the white nose comes from. I wouldn't use the profile of n.57 as a reference for the nose if there are other contrasting informations, you can see that the photo of that plane is very dark on the nose and other interpretations are possible.
Photos of other La-5F of 31 iap and 116 iap, same division and timeframe, seem to suggest a white spinner and camouflaged ring.
Regards
Massimo

[steph40]

Still thank you Massimo 
So, I corrected the illustration, Skomorokhov mount late in 1943 (as "most" probable)...


Still thank you for your help and knowledge, regards 
Stéph

[Massimo Tessitori]

You're welcome Steph, I hope that we won't find contrasting informations in future, if you have a model to paint. It's always a risk.
Now I'm wondering what to do with the profile of 57, the red nose in 1943 doesn't seem supported by photos of other planes of the division. Perhaps the ring is missing in the photo and what we see is a black hole with the engine only.
Regards
Massimo

[steph40]

Hello MAssimo,

Here is the last infos that Mr Stankov gave to me yesterday regarding this aircraft:

164 IAP (295 IAD). La-5F No.39210719, #19 flown by Lieutenant Skomorokhov N.M., aircraft mechanic: senior sergeant P. Martyushev.
La-5F #19 took part in the battles near Kharkov, Belgorod, Kursk, again Kharkov, Zaporozhye, Nikopol from March 1943 until March 1944.
Airbase:
Lower Duvanka airfield (from 03.1943-),
Kremennaya airfield (from 08/23/1943 -),
Gemini airfield (from 09.1943 -),
Sinelnikovo airfield (from 09.1943-),
Solenoe airfield (from 12.1943 -)

With these informations, this aircraft was very probably delivered in AMT4/6/7 camo. Looking at the photo taken late in 1943, maybe this aircraft was repainted in AMT11/12...
Mr Stankov thinks there was only one diagonal white stripe on the vertical tail. He thinks the white stripes on vertical tails were squadron markings in 164 IAP, not unit markings of 295 IAD (31, 116 & 164 IAP)... => So another point to clarify...!!! 

Regards
Stéph

[Massimo Tessitori]

Hi Steph,
looking at available photos of 31 iap, you can see one line. http://ava.org.ru/iap/31.htm
In 116 iap. 2 lines, http://ava.org.ru/iap/116.htm
in 164 iap, 3 lines http://ava.org.ru/iap/164.htm
So it was a regimental marking inside the division.
If the plane was delivered in March 1943, surely its camo was black and green, at least in origin. Probably the number font were small too. I don't know about successive repaintings.
Regards
Massimo