[HGabor]

Looks like all Yak-9DD fighter pilots, participating the Yugoslavian/Italian missions in 1944 later ended up in one of the regiments (611, 659, 866, 897 IAP) of the 17 VA, 288 IAD.

Kostin, for instance, lost his planes several times:

On November 21, 1944 -along with Soshnikov (Yak-9DD, S/N: 0115315, engine: 425-529)- he lost orientation, ran out of fuel and crashlanded at Pécs (Hungary)-NW, approx. 40 km in his Yak-9DD, S/N: 0115311, engine: 425-339. (Both: 17 VA, 288 IAD, 659 IAP)

On January 3, 1945 during the relocation from Madocsa, Hungary to Székesfehérvár, Hungary, he belly landed near Székesfehérvár. Plane broke, pilot unhurt.

A few days later, on January 14, 1945 Kostin was shot down in a frontal attack dogfight with Bf 109s in Yak-9DD, S/N: 0115334, engine: 415-2538. Plane broken, pilot unhurt again. Returned on foot on January 23, 1945.

On May 5, 1945 he broke another 659 IAP fighter: Yak-9M, S/N: 3115321, engine: 425-1268. Kostin was unhurt again.

He was an exceptionally lucky guy ;-)))))

Cheers,
Gabor

Notes:
- S/N: xx153xx - Novosibirsk, factory No.153 built Yak-9s
- Soviet "IAP" = U.S. "FG"
- Sorry, on November 21, 1944 Soshnikov was not shot down, he just lost orientation during a mission, ran out of fuel and crashlanded. Returned on December 25, 1944.