Luftwaffe Captured YAK-3
 

I could be wrong, but this seems to be the YAK-3 captured by the Luftwaffe
and described in detail by Lerche in his book "Luftwaffe Test Pilot".
Interesting striped nose cone.

Re: Luftwaffe Captured YAK-3
 

Two more photographs of this elusive bird. The E-Bay listing states that they are from a collection of photographs by Major Ernst-Christian Reusch, II/SG-1.
Notice that one photo is purportedly of the YAK-3 right after capture, still in Soviet markings. The other is clear side view that show the striped spinner.

Re: Luftwaffe Captured YAK-3
 

Re: Luftwaffe Captured YAK-3
 

One possibility is Gross-Schimanen on January 1945, Either 9 or 10. This according to Lerche's book "Luftwaffe Test Pilot"

Re: Luftwaffe Captured YAK-3
 

This is a Saratov, factory No.292 built Yak-3 in 1944, or 1945. (Digit '7' is Factory 292, Saratov-style.) Serial was something like: 07xx, or 07292xx, where xx = batch no.
Gabor

Re: Luftwaffe Captured YAK-3
 

Thanks Gabor for that important information.

Re: Luftwaffe Captured YAK-3
 

Hello,
these three photos were recently discussed in the Russian community.
By several participants eventually managed to establish:
- in all three photographs the same plane that Hans-Verner Lerche experienced and described this fact in memoirs;
- according to German documents - this is Yak-3 Werk.Nr. 0726 with airborne code 7, which was shot down on 22.12.1944 in the area of ​​Zichenau (Ost Prussia) and declared on 25.12.1944 when Berge-Trupp JG51 recovered it. Was in the location of JG51, until OKL Vers.Verband 06.01.45 was sent (by order of 02.01.45). 10.01.45 was relocated.
- according to the Soviet documents - Yak-3 №0726 from the composition 172 IAP 309 IAD 4 VA - junior lieutenant Rybkin Mikhail Grigoryevich - was missing 23.12.1944. He was captured on 23.12.1944 in the Pultusk area. Released from captivity on 06.05.1945.
Best regards,
Kirill

Re: Luftwaffe Captured YAK-3
 

Thanks Kirill, №0726 was a Saratov (Factory 292)-built Yak-3 indeed from batch No.26.
Gabor

Re: Luftwaffe Captured YAK-3
 

Hi Folks,
It is quite interesting, that the 172 IAP (2nd Belarus Front, 4 VA, 309 IAD) in 1944-1945 was mainly equipped with Saratov, Zavod 292-built Yak-3s from batch No.26:

Yak-3, #7, S/N: 0726 (2nd Sq., this was shot down with мл.л-т Рыбкин Михаил Григорьевич (1922-, P.O.W.) on December 23, 1944.)
Yak-3, #8, S/N: 0826 (2nd Sq., 0829226)
Yak-3, #46, S/N: 4626 (2nd Sq.)
Yak-3, #66, S/N: 6626 (2nd Sq., this was flown by мл.л-т Пантелеев Михаил Георгиевич (1923-) until 25.4.1945.)
Yak-3, #67, S/N: 6726 (2nd Sq., engine S/N: 432-433, this was flown by мл.л-т Белоконь Олег Андреевич (1923-) until 22.3.1945.)
Yak-3, #73, S/N: 7326 (2nd Sq.)
Yak-3, #36, S/N: 3626 (1st Sq., this was flown by л-т Цуркан Михаил Карпович (1922-), л-т Фрейчко Борис Борисович (1922-) and ст.л-т Тучин Василий Сергеевич (1918)-.

In 1944 the 172 IAP also flew the following planes from Novosibirsk, factory No.153:

Yak-7B, S/N: 1515334, 1st Squadron
Yak-7B, S/N: 4515303, 2nd Squadron
Yak-7B, S/N: 4615356, 2nd Squadron
Yak-9D, S/N: 1215319, 2nd Squadron
Yak-9D, S/N: 1915350, engine S/N: 415-1154 on December 15, 1944.
Yak-9D, S/N: 1815363, engine S/N: 415-921 on December 15, 1944.
Yak-9D, S/N: 1115327, engine S/N: 345-2744 on December 15, 1944.
Yak-9T, S/N: 1115324, 1st Squadron
Yak-9T, S/N: 1215327, 2nd Squadron
Yak-9T, S/N: 1115326, engine S/N: 345-2899 on December 15, 1944, .........etc.

Gabor