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Updated on 24 August, 2023
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In mid 1943, when their original units were refurbished with new types, some surviving MiG-3s were delivered to the VVS-TOF, the air force of the Pacific Fleet, far from the war front. These planes were in good company of other obsolete types as I-15bis, I-153, I-16, that shared some very interesting camouflages.
Late MiG-3 'white 54' of 6 IAP TOF
Above: this aircraft is of 6th IAP of 7 IAD of the Pacific Fleet, photographed
on Uglovoye airfield (not too far from Vladivostock) on August 18, 1943.
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Above: An enlarged detail show something about other 3 MiG-3s on the background. The closer one is plane 57. The second one, of which we see only a detail of the nose, seems to have lighter areas on the nose, perhaps white. |
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Left: Another photo showing something of the planes on the background. The third plane seems to show a dark spinner and a wide red star with white outline on its tail. The fourth one seems to have a white spinner and a white or light blue area of unusual shape under the nose. Image from Scalemodels.ru
At the end, the characteristics of plane 54 are:
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MiG-3 early 'White 37'
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The photo shows an early type MiG-3 in service +probablt with 6 (or 31 or 39) IAP TOF in Siberia in late 1943. It had another striking camouflage of difficult interpretation, but inspired to the same philosophy of that of plane White 54. The contrast between the light and dark color looks more striking than on 54; the color could be different, AII light grey being a possible candidate. The dark color is a mystery, I would give for granted the presence of a green, it is less clear if there was black too. The thin lines are certainly white. The photo shows the plane painted with glossy reflecting paint, and the low sun projects the shadows of the prop blade and of the wing on the fuselage. Image: archive Zaika https://zaika70.livejournal.com/31540.html?view=comments Its characteristicss seem to be;
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Hybrid MiG-3s n. 12, 15, 20 of 39 IAP TOF, 1943/44
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Top, Left: the photos, previously thought relative to the Black Sea Fleet, represent a line of MiG-3s of 39 IAP ToF, on the Unashi airfield. This unit utilized about 20 MiG-3s aside other obsolete types up to 1944, when they were replaced with Yak-9s. Plane 12 is well recognizable. Note the similar "white 15" and "White 20" on the background. The wide white outline around the stars was probably added on August 1943. The collective look of these planes doesn't fully match the one of other MiG-3s attributed to the same unit in the same timeframe. Its characteristics look:
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Massimo Tessitori