Photo Gallery of Pilots and Ground Crew
last modified on June 17, 2005                                            file name:personnel.html
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This photo is of the most famous MiG-3 pilot, Alexander Ivanovich Pokryshkin .
Senior Lieutnant Pokryshkin flew with 55 IAP on the Southern front, and loved MiG-3s very much. 
He obtained his first 12 air victories while piloting this type of aircraft.
He arrived at the end of the war with the rank of Colonel and was awarded three times as Hero of the Soviet Union, having credited with 59 air victories, being the second Soviet top ace after Khozedub that had 62 victories.
After the war, he remained in VVS and became Air Marshal.

from Black Cross-Red star vol.1



 
These pictures represent the ace (Hero of SU) Zakhar Sorokin in front of his Mig of 72 SAP VVS-SF  (Northern Fleet, later 2 GIAP VVS-SF) in Vayenga airdrome, in late 1941. 
The other pilot appearing in this photo near Sorokin is Dmitriy Sokolov. Them both were of the same regiment.
The MiG is a late type, with unusual black propeller blades and silver spinner; its nose looks to have a field camouflage made with thin black stripes.



 
left:
Here is K.A. Kriukov  of 12 GIAP, 6 IAK, Moscow PVO, probably during the spring of 1942. 
Note the non-standard sharp black camouflage lines of this late production MiG, probably repainted over a winter scheme.

from Soviet Combat Aircrafts vol.1
 
 

right:
this pilot is using a book as a table to write something. 
Note the frames, internal to the windshield.

 
from D. Hazanov book "Unknown war in the Moscow's sky 1941-42" vol.1
Two (supposed) images of Leytenant Sergey Rubtzov, of 120 IAP/ 12 GIAP, 6 IAK PVO, Moscow front, early 1942.
He was an ace, having shot down about 15 enemy aircraft before his death in 1942.
He obtained 5 victories in December 1941; later he was trasferred to 434 IAP, an elite unit later known as 32 GIAP; he was killed in Stalingrad on July 29, 1942.
Some sources report that he flew the MiG-3 black 12, but this is not proven.
During a simulated air combat at low altitude, Rubtzov managed to outmanouvre a Yak-1 with his MiG-3, but after this his aircraft had to be written off because its structure was outstressed beyond repair.


from Fedorov A.G. "Aviation in the combat for Moscow"


 
This photo was probably shot in winter 1941/42, and shows an early type MiG-3 armed with the 3ROB-82 triple rocket launchers. 
Note the white paint brushed on the upper surfaces and even on the propeller blades; the colors of the summer camo are recognizable in some points.
from Aviacija n.3
Below:  this pilot was sometimes identified as S. Rubtzov of 120 IAP, but the identification is uncertain.
His late type MiG is armed with rockets; it is overall painted with worn white, while its spinner is partially painted clean white.
It looks without radio mast and sliding part of canopy. 
Note the starter tooth on the spinner.



 
The photo shows Starshiy Leytenant Arkadiy Kovachevich and another pilot of 27 IAP, on Moscow front in January 1942.
They are sitting on a pressurised air tank, mounted on a small sleigh, which is connected to the aircraft by a supply line; this means that this picture is done just before a combat mission. 
That is unusual for pilots of that time, because they thought to have not luck in combat if they were photographed before taking off. 
Note the snow and the exhaust traces on the fuselage.

 
On the left:
captain F.S. Chuikin from 27 IAP. 
The Mig-3 on the background has non-white outer wing panel, probably due to the replacement of the part.

On the right: leytenant A.N. Katrich of 27 IAP.



 

Pilots from the 180 IAP. (l to r): Dolgushin, Makarov, Besov 

Other pilots of 180 IAP, Moscow front, winter 1941/42. 

from D. Hazanov book "Unknown war in the Moscow's sky 1941-42" vol.1



 

Mig-3 of T.G. Belousov of 34 IAP after a snowstorm.

from D. Hazanov book "Unknown war in the Moscow's sky 1941-42" vol.1


Pilots I.F.Golubin and  N.I Vasilevskyi  of 16 IAP.

from D. Hazanov book "Unknown war in the Moscow's sky 1941-42" vol.1


 
This photo represents the MiG-3 of leytenant S.D. Baikov of 34 IAP of 6 IAK PVO of  Moscow, probably in summer 1941. 
On the photo, the pilot shows a Red Banner Order on his chest. 
Although the aircraft is only partially visible, its camouflage appears to be very interesting. 

(Istrebitel MiG-3, of Medvedev, Hazanov, Maslov)


 
A photo of first lieutnant A.Y.Fedorov, 28 IAP, taken in winter 1941/42 near Moscow.
The aircraft is painted white and light blue, with summer camouflage visible on the tail surfaces and on some other points.
Note the code black 2 and the cleaned off number 2 on the rudder.


 
A MiG-3 on maintenance, probably during winter 1941/42.
Note the slat in rarely seen extended position.

from D. Hazanov book "Unknown war in the Moscow's sky 1941-42" vol.1


 
Unknown pilot during the winter 1941/42, probably on Moscow front.
Note the pipe for compressed air refuelling, and the rarely seen armoured glass inside the windshield.

from D. Hazanov book "Unknown war in the Moscow's sky 1941-42" vol.1



 
The future HSU Konstantin Dmitrievich Denisov of 7 IAP CHF, Black Sea Fleet. 



 
This pilot was identified either as Barkovskyi from 487 IAP,
(Istrebitel MiG-3, of Medvedev, Hazanov, Maslov)
or as P.P. Vorobiov of the unit of the ace Captain A.F. Semyonov (?), August 1941, 
(Operacija Barbarossa, Kulikov and Mosanskij)
Note the black stripes over a green/dark green base camouflage, and the camouflaged propeller blades.
Pilot Marchev being congratulated for an air victory.
Again, we see some interesting black repaintings over the aircraft's nose and propeller.

(Operacija Barbarossa, Kulikov and Mosanskij)


 
This image shows squadron leader G.M.Matveev with his pilots, on the Western Front during August 1941. 
The pilot on the right seems I.P.Pavlov.


Here is is A.K. Niekliudov , that served within 6th IAK (Avia Corps) PVO of 1 VIA PVO (Vozdushnaya Istrebitelnaya Armiya: Air 
Fighter Army)
The veteran has taken action in Halkhin Gol, Winter war and GPW, scoring 7 victories.
The picture with Mig-3 is dated of Spring 1943. Note the green overall livery and the white identification bands on wings.

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