History[]
Built at Zavod 31 in Gorki,[1] this aircraft left the factory on 11 August 1942, and was - probably - assigned to 524th IAP as White 57.[2] After a short period of service, 3121357 was damaged by the Finnish pilot Altto Tervo, during a combat over the Olonets isthmus on September 14th, 1942. Captured by Finnish forces after a forced landing in a meadow at Ala-Sedoksa[3], near Nurmoila, the aircraft was repaired by the Finns, and joined LeLv 32 as LG-3 in the end of 1942,[4][5] flown by Warrant Officer E. Koskinen.[6]
When in Russian service
As first flown by the Finnish Air Force
As last flown by the Finnish Air Force
During the summer of 1944, LG-3 was slightly modified:
- The antenna mast was shortened;
- The tail wheel was made fixed, and its doors were locked in closed position;[N 1]
- The upper part of the yellow band on the nose was repainted olive green, to make it less evident from above.[7]
After this modification the aircraft returned to service with HLeLv 11 on 4 December 1944. Last flight was on 29 January 1945.[6]
Notes[]
- ↑ This could have been done because of the unreliability of the mechanism; the doors were slightly cut to fit the leg.
Sources[]
- ↑ http://massimotessitori.altervista.org/sovietwarplanes/pages/lagg3/57/white57.html
- ↑ http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww2/f/377/1/5#5
- ↑ http://massimotessitori.altervista.org/sovietwarplanes/pages/lagg3/lg3/lg3.html
- ↑ http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww2/f/377/78/0#3
- ↑ Keskinen et al 1977, pp.108-109.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Keskinen et al 1977, pp.75+126.
- ↑ http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/lagg3/lg3/lg3.html
Bibliography[]
- Keskinen, Kalevi with Kari Stenman and Klaus Niska. Suomen Ilmavoimien Historia 7: Venäläiset Hävittäjät. Espoo, Finland: Tietoteos, 1977. ISBN 951-9035-25-7.