Yakovlev’s OKB work was done to improve the view back from the cabin of the Yak-7 M-105PF directly at the front: the rear fuselage was lowered and the cabine cover was given a drop-like shape. Military tests were conducted on the North-Western Front at 42 iap (commander F.I. Shinkarenko) 240 iad from November 17 to December 13, 1942. Four enemy planes were shot down while one Yak-7B was lost. The cockpit with improved visibility was praised by the pilots and was recommended for use on all fighter aircraft.

(Source: http://www.airfield.narod.ru/yak/yak.html).

Yak-7B late, 42 iap, December 1942:

The camouflage shades are light even against white snowy background, what points more at grey-grey than black-green colors. Camouflage fields are painted in the new experimental layout with which Yakovlev experimented from beginning 1943. The light blue color painted on the sides of the fuselage should mask the flying arcraft against bluish horizon. Red stars with thin black outlines were standard for the first half of GPW.
More about camouflage development in 1943 at https://massimotessitori.altervista.org/sovietwarplanes/pages/colors/1943-45-fighters/1943-45.html.

Photo of the original:

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