Polikarpov I-153 N:o 7325 recovered in Russia

[Martti Kujansuu]

http://www.vyborg-press.ru/index.php...232&bsb_midx=1

http://www.1tv.ru/news/social/154348

The facts in nutshell:
- I-153 No. 7325
- Found at Zulkovo, near the Finnish border / Vyborg.
- Flown by Eugene Zaitchikov, MIA on 7th March 1940.
- c. 10mm MG holes at the cockpit; shot down by Finnish Gladiator? T. Ollikainen claimed I-153 on 7th March while flying GL-279 at the area. R. Malinen also claimed one with GL-276.

Martti

[Pilot]

Interesting news

[Sealand Tower]

Fascinating. Any news on the fate of the pilot ?

[markjsheppard]

I was sent a load of recovery photos last night.

The I-153 belonged to 148IAP

The pilot is still classed as MIA. Though what I found interesting in this photo was the machinegun away from the wreck and in the ground - muzzle downwards. This might indicate a possible field burial. The pilot may have been found later and buried by Finnish or Soviet troops. The gun is used as a marker/headstone.

I have seen this with burials during Battle of France and North Africa. No reason why it would be any difference in Finland/Russia.

Would anyone concur with this conclusion?

I have informed the recovery team so we will have to wait and see.

regards

MS

[markjsheppard]

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.

[Martti Kujansuu]

Originally Posted by markjsheppard

Would they be upset if a Russian team recovered a Finnish I-153?

Probably since it is known "fact" here in Finland that one can't trust a Russian when it comes to recovering former Finnish Air Force planes. To my knowledge there is no longer larger wrecks to recover in Finland. If my memory serves me correctly a I-15 or I-153 was found in some lake during the 1960s or 70s but was sold to junkyard.

I had a link to a Russian site where they had sonar photos of wrecks at Vyborg area, one was probably Finnish or Soviet I-153.