[HGabor]

Maj. Koldunov belonged to the 17 VA, 288 IAD, 866 IAP. He flew one of the first Yak-3s of the 17 VA, 288 IAD. His first Yak-3 was Saratov-built, S/N:1711 from September 22, 1944.

His other known Yak-3 was also a Saratov-built Yak-3 (S/N:1933 between March 28, 1945 and May, 1945). According to the regular, quarterly mechanical division-report this plane was still in service at least 'til July 1, 1945.

According to TsAMO mechanical report, 288 IAD had the following Saratov-built Yak-3s on October 1, 1944: S/N: 1215, 1515, 1711 (Koldunov), 2917, 3918 and 4516.
On October 8, 1944 the 866th IAP received another Saratov-built Yak-3 S/N: 2015.
On October 10, 1944 they received 3 new Tbilisi-built Yak-3s too: 310055, 310081 and 310220. Most of these planes were re-assigned to 659. IAP in the next few days or weeks, including Koldunov's 1711 which was flown by V. M. Smeshkov (659. IAP HQ.) between November 15, 1944-March 9, 1945. Between April 4-30, 1945 this plane was flown by Capt. Victor A. Shukin (also 659. IAP)

Two of these Saratov-built 17 VA, 288 IAD, 659 IAP Yak-3s were shot down by Hungarian 'Puma' Bf 109 fighters on January 16, 1945 in a heavy dogfight over Seregélyes & Sárszentmihály, - both Soviet pilots were KIA:

Yak-3, S/N: 2917, engine 422-275, white '29', pilot: мл.л-т Галкин Николай Иванович (№138088, KIA)
Yak-3, S/N: 3918, engine 422-470, white '39', pilot: ст.л-т Фисенко Михаил Александрович (№138850, KIA)

Saratov (292. factory)-built Yak-3s: XXYY, where X=plane ID, as well as factory painted tactical (fuselage) number (marking), Y= batch No. Therefore Maj. Koldunov's Yak-3 (1711) was probably white '17' during the November 7, 1944 incident over Yugoslavia with the P-38s of the 15. USAAF, 82nd FG.
(For some reason eg. 5 VA used the long serial number version in their reports with factory number in the centre as: XX292YY)

Tbilisi, 31. factory-built Yak-3s: 31YYXX, where 31=factory no., X=plane ID & white fuselage marking/number, Y=Batch No.


Gabor