Za Stalina to Kharkov
updated on March 30, 2005                            file name: khar-zast.html
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This image represents a MiG-3 of  148 IAP during the battle for Kharkov in 1942; on the photo, Ivan I. Pavlov and parachute packer Yevgeniy Kazakov check the prachute of 148 th. IAP. pilot maj. Yakov Titayev before a sortie.
The aircraft is only partially visible on this image, but it shows interesting characteristics.
While examining this photo, we have to take in account that the light is nearly horizontal, and that some dark parts of the photo extend on the background too, this allows to identify them as photo defects.
An interesting characteristic is the black blotch on the wingroot, that seems painted with thinned paint; it could seem a shadow too, but what the hell could create such a shadow with an horizontal light? A shadow should be projected on the coats of the men too. It is surely not a piece of cloth.


from Mir Aviacia 2/2002

Its characteristics seem to be: 
  • late type, with radio mast, probably with slats;
  • with inert gas device near the left exhaust stacks;
  • winter camouflaged, with blotches of green and black on the wings and tail surfaces (perhaps overpainted over the white coat) to camouflage the aircraft during the early spring; the scheme drawn is hypothetical;
  • the slogan "Za Stalina" ("For Stalin") is painted red, with the part overposed to the star repainted white;
  • no any number appears on the photo, but there could be one on the tail;
  • the spinner is white, and blades could be white too;
  • the small triangular plates near the side oil cooler exhaust flap seems absent;
  • the exhaust stacks could be painted white too.
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