Luftwaffe Captured YAK-3

[HGabor]

Hi Folks,
It is quite interesting, that the 172 IAP (2nd Belarus Front, 4 VA, 309 IAD) in 1944-1945 was mainly equipped with Saratov, Zavod 292-built Yak-3s from batch No.26:

Yak-3, #7, S/N: 0726 (2nd Sq., this was shot down with мл.л-т Рыбкин Михаил Григорьевич (1922-, P.O.W.) on December 23, 1944.)
Yak-3, #8, S/N: 0826 (2nd Sq., 0829226)
Yak-3, #46, S/N: 4626 (2nd Sq.)
Yak-3, #66, S/N: 6626 (2nd Sq., this was flown by мл.л-т Пантелеев Михаил Георгиевич (1923-) until 25.4.1945.)
Yak-3, #67, S/N: 6726 (2nd Sq., engine S/N: 432-433, this was flown by мл.л-т Белоконь Олег Андреевич (1923-) until 22.3.1945.)
Yak-3, #73, S/N: 7326 (2nd Sq.)
Yak-3, #36, S/N: 3626 (1st Sq., this was flown by л-т Цуркан Михаил Карпович (1922-), л-т Фрейчко Борис Борисович (1922-) and ст.л-т Тучин Василий Сергеевич (1918)-.

In 1944 the 172 IAP also flew the following planes from Novosibirsk, factory No.153:

Yak-7B, S/N: 1515334, 1st Squadron
Yak-7B, S/N: 4515303, 2nd Squadron
Yak-7B, S/N: 4615356, 2nd Squadron
Yak-9D, S/N: 1215319, 2nd Squadron
Yak-9D, S/N: 1915350, engine S/N: 415-1154 on December 15, 1944.
Yak-9D, S/N: 1815363, engine S/N: 415-921 on December 15, 1944.
Yak-9D, S/N: 1115327, engine S/N: 345-2744 on December 15, 1944.
Yak-9T, S/N: 1115324, 1st Squadron
Yak-9T, S/N: 1215327, 2nd Squadron
Yak-9T, S/N: 1115326, engine S/N: 345-2899 on December 15, 1944, .........etc.

Gabor