659 IAP KOLDUNOV

[keith A]

Why was this ace with the 659 IAP in November 1944? He serves almost all his WW2 service in 866 IAP but claims four victories with this unit. Was the 659 IAP equipped with Yak-3 at this time?

regards

Keith

[HGabor]

Koldunov was in 17 VA, 288 IAD, 866 IAP, flying one of the first Yak-3s of his regiment in 1944. 866 IAP received Yak-3s beside their main Yak-9T (eg. 1015355) and some Yak-9D model mainly in early 1945, like: 310099, 310233 from Tbilisi plant. 17 VA, 288 IAD regiments (611, 659, 866, 897 IAP) sometimes were stationing side by side. In case of emergency, mechanical issues, or alarmstart they borrowed each other’s planes, just as famous 17 VA, 31st IAP La-5FN ace, Capt. Nikolai Skomorokhov borrowed Maj. Nikolai Romanov‘s (17 VA, 295 IAD division HQ.) single La-7FN, S/N: 3811716, white ‘16’ (from Zavod 381.) on his January 16, 1945 mission. His 31st IAP received their very first 13 La-7FNs as late as March, 1945!!! (eg. 45211183, white ‘83’). (17 VA, 295 IAD got 30 La-7s altogether, including these 13 31st IAP planes.)

659 IAP also received several Yak-3s especially in early 1945, like: 1215, 4516, 2917, 3918 from Saratov (Zavod 292.), and 310155, 310137, 310044, etc. from Tbilisi (Zavod 31.) beside their main Yak-9D (eg. 16166093 from Omsk, Zavod 166.) and Yak-9DD models (eg. 0115315 from Novosibirsk, Zavod 153.).

Cheers,

Gabor

[keith A]

Thanks Gabor,

It seems that he may have been flying a 659 IAP Yak-9D as a substitute then.

salut


Keith

[keith A]

...but on two different days?

It seems clear he was flying a Yak-9D, M or T which ruins my thought that he was training them to fly Yak-3s.

best regards
Keith

[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

[markjsheppard]

Hi Gabor

Hopefully won't mind hijacking this thread.

I am trying to find out more information on a 161th fighter regiment pilot called Spitsyn who was with the unit in early 1942.

How would I go about finding more on him.

regards

Mark

[HGabor]

Mark,

I just sent you a private message. If you do not mind, here I would stay with the topic for easier follow-ups.
Thanks,

Gabor

[markjsheppard]

Gabor

No problem.

regards

Mark

[keith A]

Thanks for the info Gabor. So he was flying Yak-3 from September 1944. I think I am beginning to understand a little more about the VVS. I am still a bit confused about the 659 IAP details... maybe it was just a typo?

much thanks

Keith

[keith A]

Hi Gabor,

Did the other squadrons in the IAD use similar markings? Perhaps different colours?

best regards

Keith