[HGabor]

Keith,

Correct. Koldunov flew his first Yak-3 (No.1711, - white 17) since September 22, 1944. Two of his Yak-3s are known: 1711 and 1933, but he flew other planes as well. On these two planes he completed 120 missions between September 22, 1944 and May 1, 1945. He definitely belonged to the 866th IAP, but: flying the newest model (Yak-3) of the 288th division, he and his fellows were an ‘elite-team’. He not only joined the 659 IAP on November 7, 1944 over Nis, Yugoslavia against the ‘friendly-enemies’: 82nd FG P-38s during their friendly-fire incident, but they also joined the 897 IAP on November 10, 1944 strafing the Pécs airfield in Hungary. In the morning of November 10, 1944, a single Boston bomber (most likely A-20C, S/N: 42-33151) of 17 VA, 244. BAD, 260. BAP, 1st BS, piloted by Capt. Ivan Stepanovich Chekurin flew a successful recce. mission over Pécs airfield in Southern-Hungary, photographing about 60, mainly twin-engined enemy planes. Soviet HQ. immediately ordered a long-range air-strike on Pécs airfield in the same afternoon. Soviet Yak-1b and Yak-9T fighters of the 897 IAP had 4 waves, while Koldunov’s new Yak-3s formed the 5th group, protecting the others. So it looks like they, as an ‘elite group’ were used for special missions to protect others.

The standard fighter type of the ‘white-arrowed’ 659 IAP at that time was the Yak-9D. After November, 1944 they rapidly received several Yak-3s. Since in 1944-1945 mainly the 659. IAP Yaks escorted the Lend Lease A-20 Boston formations of the 17 VA, 244 BAD, they wanted to provide the best escort for the expensive bombers, carrying 4 people in each. Probably this is why the 659 IAP got so many brand new Yak-3s soon after November, 1944. But as I said, Koldunov’s 866 IAP Yak-3 team had joined other IAPs (659, 897) of the 288th IAD as well for special escort.

The Yak-3s kept arriving to the 288 IAD and their regiments - according to the mechanical reports (TsAMO) – had the following number of Yak-3s in service on:

January 1, 45: 58 - (659, 866 IAP and 288th division HQ. losses eg.: 2917, 3918, 4516, 310062, 310173, etc.)
Feb. 1, 45: 54 (February losses eg.: 310155)
March 1, 45: 53 (March losses eg.: 310233, 310370, 310167, etc.)
April 1, 45: 87 (April losses eg.: 310377, 310118 near Wiener Neustadt, etc.)

ЦАМО, фонд 35, опись 11258, дело 349, страница 7
ЦАМО, фонд 35, опись 11258, дело 349, страница 40
ЦАМО, фонд 35, опись 11258, дело 349, страница 63
ЦАМО, фонд 35, опись 11258, дело 349, страница 85

They usually came to replace the outdated Yak-1s and Yak-9s. But this is just the beginning of a long story…
Cheers,

Gabor