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Re: 659 IAP KOLDUNOV
Koldunov was in 17 VA, 288 IAD, 866 IAP, flying one of the first Yak-3s of his regiment in 1944. 866 IAP received Yak-3s beside their main Yak-9T (eg. 1015355) and some Yak-9D model mainly in early 1945, like: 310099, 310233 from Tbilisi plant. 17 VA, 288 IAD regiments (611, 659, 866, 897 IAP) sometimes were stationing side by side. In case of emergency, mechanical issues, or alarmstart they borrowed each other’s planes, just as famous 17 VA, 31st IAP La-5FN ace, Capt. Nikolai Skomorokhov borrowed Maj. Nikolai Romanov‘s (17 VA, 295 IAD division HQ.) single La-7FN, S/N: 3811716, white ‘16’ (from Zavod 381.) on his January 16, 1945 mission. His 31st IAP received their very first 13 La-7FNs as late as March, 1945!!! (eg. 45211183, white ‘83’). (17 VA, 295 IAD got 30 La-7s altogether, including these 13 31st IAP planes.)
659 IAP also received several Yak-3s especially in early 1945, like: 1215, 4516, 2917, 3918 from Saratov (Zavod 292.), and 310155, 310137, 310044, etc. from Tbilisi (Zavod 31.) beside their main Yak-9D (eg. 16166093 from Omsk, Zavod 166.) and Yak-9DD models (eg. 0115315 from Novosibirsk, Zavod 153.).
Cheers,
Gabor
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