IL-2 Sturmovik Recognition

[taitbb]

Just wondering if it is possible to identify possible unit that the below IL-2 vertical stabilizer may have belonged to.

It was recovered in Latvia , Ergli City region near Lake Jumurda.
There was known to be lot's of fighting in this region Sept, 1944.

As you can see, it is standard green, no sign of camo on this piece. But it does have a white painted stripe, possible unit marker, or very common?

TY

[HGabor]

Looks like same unit...

[taitbb]

Any idea what unit that photo is from?

From the little i have read...stripes and markings, at least early on, tended to be more reserved for Guards units. But i do not think this was a hard rule, and there certainly were exceptions.

TY

[HGabor]

There was no strict rule. Many 'regular' regiments had different stripe(s) on their tail. The photo with mechanics shows a plane from Zavod 30, based on the length of the serial number under the front star. It was something 30XX57. Northern units usually got their planes from Factory No. 30 (Moscow), having serials 30XXXX. Southern fronts received more planes from Factories No.1 and 18. (Kuybishev) - (1XXXX, XXXX and 187XXXX, 188XXXX, 188XXXXX) Your plane part is probably from Zavod 30. Shown green color was also typical (Green-Brown). Keep checking the units.

Gabor

[taitbb]

Thank you very much.

[Kari Lumppio]

Hello!

Unit identification can be very difficult in this case. Soviet 14 VA (14th Air Army) supported 3rd Baltic Front in the Summer 1944 assault. The air army was mostly involved in Latvia but participated also in the battles over Southern Estonia (my focus of interest).

A Soviet-era Estonian book mentions that 14 VA had 12 Shturmovik regiments in Estonian battles. The same may hold true also during the battles around Ergli, Latvia. BTW Rudel was also shot down over Ergli!
( http://www.allaces.ru/cgi-bin/s2.cgi...uct/h/va14.dat )

14 VA organic attack division seems to have been 305 ShAD which consisted of 175, 237 and 955 ShAP
(see also: http://www.allaces.ru/cgi-bin/s2.cgi.../d/shad305.dat

But the mixed aviation division 280 SAD also had two Il-2 regiments: 606 and 958 ShAP
(see: http://www.allaces.ru/cgi-bin/s2.cgi...t/d/bad280.dat)

Remainder of the Il-2 regiments were from 7 ShAK (Attack Aviation Corps) which had 2 or 3 divisions and numerous regiments. I have not been able to sort out exactly which regiments were fighting with 14 VA during the Summer 1944. I thought I had a list prepared by a colleague but did not find it.
(see: http://www.allaces.ru/cgi-bin/s2.cgi...ct/k/shak7.dat)


Cheers,
Kari

PS There was lots of Zavod 18 Il-2s in the 7 VA units, not only from 30 Zavod.

[John Beaman]

Kari, thanks for those most interesting links. Even with Google's erratic translator, some good information there!

[HGabor]

Kari,

could you please free up some space in your personal mailbox, since I cannot send you message... Tx.

Gabor

[HGabor]

Finally found info on unit and pilot of this IL-2 No.1 with white stripe: This plane belonged to st.lt. Ivan Ivanovich Andreev (1923-), deputy squadron commander of 15 VA, 225 ShAD, 810 ShAP:

http://allaces.ru/p/people.php?id=00000004166

Mechanics repair his plane after strafing attack on German tanks in the Mtsensk area.

Gabor