image from MiG-3 Istrebitel

This damaged aircraft (n.8 or n.9) belonged to 38 PAE (Air Recognition  Separate Squadron) from PVO (Home Air Defence) of Moscow in 1941. The title of one of the available photos, instead, suggests that the plane was photographed in Ukraine near Kharkov.

All the photos show the plane downloaded from a railway car on a wide ramp of wood and likely destined to demolition. Many pieces are lacking, including the sliding hood of the canopy, the wing consoles, the aerial mast.

It is clear that it was a prewar-production MiG-3, probably built without slats. While it is clear that the plane had full wings and cowling when operational, there are doubts about the sliding hood and radio mast that weren't always installed.

This enigmatic plane has been represented in many profiles since the '80s. The number has sometimes been drawn as 8, but the availability of more photos has made clear that it was 9, probably light blue because yellow numbers were unlikely for planes painted after the start of the war.

Looking carefully at the photos, it seems that large light patches were overposed to the original overall green paint, and the darker blotches (black and/or dark green) were added over.
The photo shows many whitish rectangles on the rear fuselage: they could be pieces of fabric glued to repair projectile holes before the definitive knocking-out of this aircraft.
Noteworty is the red star on the rudder, with a forward slant; the original stars on the fuselage were painted over when the plane was camouflaged, and almost surely the same was for the original stars painted over the wings; the red stars under the wings were probably of the prewar size and position.

The front cone of the spinner coluld have been of the light camouflage color, or of the same color of the number 9.

Despite a caption describes the plane as a MiG-1, the wheels doors show clearly that it was a MiG-3.

This photo of the aircraft shows camouflaged propeller blades too.

The greater deterioration of the plane is sadly evident; this shows more and more extended damages.

Unfortunately, no photos of the plane from the other side are available.

Below: a reconstruction of the look of this plane when still operational. The colors of the camouflage, painted over the base AII green/A-19f prewar livery, are supposed to be light brown AMT-1(or something similar), green AMT-4 and black AMT-6.

The colors are supposed applied in this sequence: large brown mottles over the original AII/A-19f green, then partial repainting with darker green and black. The radio mast and the sliding hood were supposed installed, although this is not sure. All the damages and repairs visible on the photos were omitted. The front cone was supposed light blue, although this is not sure from photos.