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Allied and Soviet Air Forces Please use this forum to discuss the Air Forces of the Western Allies and the Soviet Union. |
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#1
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I 61 - American?
Writing from Schatalowka on 28.9.41, my grandfather wrote that three Russian fighters attacked the airport. He describes them as "schwere russ. Ja[e]ger vom Typ I 61 (amerik. Baumuster)".
I get the impression after a quick search in webland, that the I 61 was the precursor to the MiG-1 and built by the Russians. Does anyone know what plane my grandfather was thinking of? Was he incorrect by saying the I 61 was built by the Americans? Or is he thinking of a different plane? If it helps, all three fighters were shot down, and my grandfather comments that a 2cm shell from one of the light Flak guns penetrated the engine of one plane through 4mm of armour. It was also carrying a bomb. Many thanks. Karl |
#2
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Re: I 61 - American?
Hi Karl,
You are correct, I-61 is an alternate designation for the MiG-1. I believe the Germans also incorrectly used the designation I-18 for the MiG-1 and MiG-3. I've no idea what the American link could be as the MiG-1 was designed and built by the Mikoyan Gurevich design bureau, definately Russian (Soviet). Andy Fletcher |
#3
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Re: I 61 - American?
The I-16 was sometimes erroneously called Curtiss fighter, just like the SB was sometimes called Martin bomber, it could be that the new I-61 (MiG 1/3) was also attributed to a foreign firm?
__________________
Ruy Horta 12 O'Clock High! And now I see with eye serene The very pulse of the machine; A being breathing thoughtful breath, A traveller between life and death; |
#4
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Re: I 61 - American?
Thanks for the prompt replies!
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#5
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Re: I 61 - American?
These aircraft probably were MiG-3s. The name of the place is Shatalovo in English transcription, although the Germans called it Schatalowka.
With which unit did your father serve? |
#6
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Re: I 61 - American?
in his book "mein flugbuch " by gunther rall you can read:
numbers of victorys. his 10th victory ( date 11.august 1941 O Kanew) MIG -3 his 26th victory ( date 23.october 1941 S Alexandrowka ) I-61 but probable most of the time they had not really a glue what they shot down. at least not in my opinion ) in the year 1940 the soviets have called the mig 1 = I-200 ( according to Sobolew ) I 26 = yak 1 / I 301 = LaGG-1 . later they called the planes after the designer/developer. |
#7
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Re: I 61 - American?
Hi Christer,
My grandfather was with a section of Flak-Transportbatterie 2./41 which was assigned to work with a 2cm Flak battery protecting the airfield. I don't know which battery this was or what Flak-Abteilung it belonged to. The only clue is that the regimental Stab reported 60 kills (+ 19 possible kills) by the end of September. The Zugfu[e]hrer of the battery that shot down one of the planes was a Hptm. Hauser (possibly Hanser). The Russian pilot managed to escape into a nearby wood, but was wounded in the hand - a glove was found in the cockpit with a finger in it (a bullet smashed the steering stick). Thanks for your interest. |
#8
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Re: I 61 - American?
It is MiG-1/3 I believe... Therse markings can be also found in the lists of captured Soviet planes published in "Barbarossa Victims" by T. Kopanski.
Markings I-200, I-26, I-301 were the names of prototypes of the new planes designed in 1940. At the moment of entering the production names were changed to well known MiG-1, Yak-1 and LaGG-3. BTW - MiG -3 can have some foreign roots - it's ancesor -Project X (or K) is quite similar (in idea) to XP-37... But we may also said that Russians could decide to biuld the new plane taking after He-100. |
#9
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Re: I 61 - American?
Quote:
from an book by Dimitri Alexejwitsch Sobolev , translated in german. "" Ein weiteres Beispiel für den deutschen Einfluss auf die sowj. Luftfahrt in den Vorkriegsjahren : Zum Jahresende 1940 entschied das ZK der RKP(B) über die künftige Benennung neuer Kampfflugzeuge mit dem ersten Buchstaben des Namens des Hauptkonstrukteurs . Jak 1 anstelle von I 26 , Mig 1 anstelle von I 200. etc etc. |
#10
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Re: I 61 - American?
Quote:
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