Unfortunately the gun was put there by one of the recovery team!
The pilot is still missing. Coins, gun, parachute buckles and helmet were located but no remains. The possibility is that the body was buried though no visible grave. The team undertook too lengthy searches of the area.
Nice recovery and historic airframe.
Looking at it and the Finnish website there are a number of Finnish I-153's that landed on lakes - one went through, another was destroyed on the lake. Does the Finnish museum have an I-153 - would have thought they would want on on display?
Would they be upset if a Russian team recovered a Finnish I-153?
regards
Mark
(What about these ones in Finland)
IT-20 23/07/42 3/LeLv 6
16/11/42 2/LeLv 6 03/10/41 Captured in Sommarö.
08/01/43 Forced to land on ice near Tiurinsaari due to engine failure and shot through the ice. The pilot luutnantti Riemu Rauha Paltila drowned.
VH-13 - IT-13 18/04/41 Er.LLv
21/06/41 3/LLv 6
15/01/43 2/LeLv 30 Winter War booty aircraft.
14/10/40 Overturned after landing-gear failure. The pilot luutnantti E. Itävuori uninjured.
12/09/41 The left-hand wheel broke off and the aircraft overturned. The pilot K. Koskinen uninjured.
06/12/41 Returned to 3/LLv 6 after repairs.
24/02/42 Landing-gear failure led to a crash near Hamina. The pilot kapteeni E. Jauri uninjured.
24/03/43 Enginen hit by bullets in dogfight and the aircraft was forced to land on ice near Peninsaari. The pilot kersantti S. Jänkävaara escaped uninjured and was rescued on the ice by vänrikki Olavi Puro. The aircraft was shot alight by the rest of the patrol.