Yak-9T aces + profiles

[warhawk]

HSU Pavel Petrovich Karavai
http://www.airaces.narod.ru/all4/karavay.htm

Double HSU Pave Yakovlyevich Golovachev
http://www.airaces.narod.ru/all2/golovach.htm

Both machines in interesting markings (see profiles)

[Massimo Tessitori]

Hi Warhawk,
interesting profiles, but I would like to see the photos from what they are from.
For the Yak-3vk-107 of Karavay in particular, it would be the only known one about operative use in ww2 of this type.
Massimo

[John Thompson]

Some great opportunities for the decal manufacturers there!

The profile of Karavai's Yak-3/VK-107 is from A.V. Stankov's book "Yak Fighters in Soviet Air Force Regiments 1941-1945 Vol.2", but no photos of this aircraft are included in the book - as Massimo says, it would be very interesting to know if this really was an operational Yak-3/VK-107, or if Stankov is mistaken and Karavai's last two kills were scored when flying the standard VK-105PF version of the Yak-3.

I'm also curious about the overall green colour used in this profile - many of the Yaks of all types illustrated in this book are shown in the same odd colour.

John

[Massimo Tessitori]

Hi John,
I had collected some comments translated by another person on this pilot, and you can find them on my page on Yak-3vk-107. There is a story, according to which he went to the factory and obtained a new plane. But dates are not in perfect accord to those of series production of that type. So, it could also be that this was a standard Yak-3, or a Yak-9U that is nearly undistinguishable in photos if you don't see the landing gear extended.
About solid green Yaks: I suppose that grey is more likely.
Regards
Massimo

[Massimo Tessitori]

Hi,
Istvan Vadasz has sent this scan, showing the Yak-3 of Karavay in 1945, and it's of usual type. So I doubt that he was given a Yak-3 vk-107.
Thanks to Istvan.
Massimo

[Dark Green Man]

I should feel honored that they have stolen my photos of my model of Karavay's Yak-7b.

HSU Pavel Petrovich Karavai
http://www.airaces.narod.ru/all4/karavay.htm

Double HSU Pave Yakovlyevich Golovachev
http://www.airaces.narod.ru/all2/golovach.htm

Both machines in interesting markings (see profiles)

[Massimo Tessitori]

I should feel honored that they have stolen my photos of my model of Karavay's Yak-7b.

They should at least have credited the source. Maybe you can write asking this.
Massimo