This image, presumably of late 1941, shows LaGG-3 n.15 of 44 IAP, Leningrad area.

Although ppor, the image seems to show something that can be only a red star on the white spinner.

Although a thin line suggests a closed canopy, my impression is that this is a retouch on the photo, and that the sliding hood was omitted. The horizontal strut of the sliding hood is not visible nor on the light backgroun, nor on the pilot.

Image via Mansur Mustafin

• sharp prop spinner;
• tubular exhaust stacks;
• 1 UB 12,7 mm mm firing through the propeller shaft;
• 1 12,7 UB machine gun guns on the left side of the engine cowling, and relative holes on the left side of the cowling;
• 2  7,62 mm ShKAS machine guns on the engine cowling;
• engine cowling with dzus locks
• pointed side plates behind the exhaust stacks;
• wide flat inlets on engine cowling sides;
• three slots on left nose panel;
• recessed outlet on right panel;
• early oval (?) supercharger intakes;
• short radio mast;
• straight rudder with two balance masses;
• water cooler outlet on the fuselage with small step and long flap;
• fixed tail wheel;
• no slats, pitot on the right leading edge.

 

Left:

a reconstruction of the likely look of this plane.

The camouflage was typical of this unit, with variations from plane to plane.