Sergei Glinkin La-5
 

Hello all.
Can anyone tell me what the marking after the white 2 is on Glinkin's La-5? Can anyone confirm the full markings for this a/c?
Photo attached from Soviet Aces 1936-53 website (Bykov?)
Thanks

Re: Sergei Glinkin La-5
 

It was either 23, or 27. The lower circle is not part of a number, it's a small side door for the mechanics. The digits are typical white, Factory No.21 (Gorkiy) numbers as part of the AC serial number. So it was either 3921xx23, or 3921xx27. The number outline was dark blue. Hope this helps.
Gabor

Re: Sergei Glinkin La-5
 

Thanks Gabor.
I thought the line was too bold to simply be a panel line, but I am happy to stand corrected. Also, most of the 5GIAP La-5FNprofiles I have seen have red outlines to the numbers, and it is difficult to pick much difference in density between the star and number outlines, but I will defer to your considerable expertise on both counts.
Peter

Re: Sergei Glinkin La-5
 

Hi Peter,
Most Lavochkin decals are wrong showing red outlines of the factory applied white fuselage numbers (which were in fact the last 2 digits of the AC serial number) - as they were blue. See planes in museums, or recovered Lavochkin remains. One is attached below. Cheers,
Gabor

Re: Sergei Glinkin La-5
 

Thank you for the explanation of the number outline colour!
Cheers
Peter

Re: Sergei Glinkin La-5
 

Thank you for the explanation of the number outline colour!

Sorry, but this raises one more question for me - were the numbers on the La-7 also generally with blue outline?

Cheers
Peter

Re: Sergei Glinkin La-5
 

Yes. ;-) La-5s, La-7s and Yak-3s all left assembly lines pre-numbered, which made the ground crews' lives easier on frontline airfields. They just had to apply regiment colors. It was a practical factory method to use the last 2 digits (or the plane No. within batch) numbers for markings. Style of numbers were factory specific, so these numbers tell a lot for authentic plane reconstruction and identification.

Gabor

Re: Sergei Glinkin La-5
 

OK, thank you Gabor
Peter

Re: Sergei Glinkin La-5
 

Good evening Gentlemen,

is it possible to ascertain if Glinkin flew a La-5 or a La-7 when he scored his last kill ?

Michael