JG53 and the I-17 - Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum

keith A · #1 25th March 2013, 16:26

I have noticed that a number of pilots claim to have shot down I-17s in the early months of the Russian campaign. Does anyone have a clear idea what these were. I am assuming they were Yak-1 or LaGG-3 maybe even Mig-3?

regards

Keith

Johannes · #2 26th March 2013, 07:50

Hi Keith

I-17, I-200 and I-18 and Mig-1 are all in the same. MiG-3 was I-61, Jak-1 was I-26, Rata was I-16, LaGG-1 was I-22, LaGG-3 was I-301 and I-180 was Jak-7.

Regards

Johannes

Maxim1 · #3 26th March 2013, 15:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johannes

I-17, I-200 and I-18 and Mig-1 are all in the same.

Hi, Johannes.

I must add that MiG-1 (aka I-200) did not participate in any air combat of WW II, so I-200, MiG-1 and I-18 (this type didn't exist at all) in German victory claims are all probably misidentifications for MiG-3.

I-17 was an experimental plane which looked a lot like MiG-3, so probably another misidentification here:

http://www.airwar.ru/image/idop/fww2/i17/i17-5.jpg

Also, I-22 was a prototype of LaGG-1 (aka I-301) and all three are clearly misidentifications for LaGG-3. I-180 was again only an experimental plane.

Regards,
Maksim

GMichalski · #4 26th March 2013, 23:37

hi,
that's exactly what I was going to comment... the misidentifications in eastern front.....
we must be careful with the models of the planes...to start the war in Russia german pilots had some doubts about aircraft models and could be wrong...

kind regards

oquaig · #5 2nd April 2013, 04:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxim1

Hi, Johannes.

I must add that MiG-1 (aka I-200) did not participate in any air combat of WW II...

Not true. There were 31 MiG-1s in Baltic Military District, 37 MiG-1s in Western Military District, 1 MiG-1 in Kiev Military District and 8 MiG-1s in Odessa Military District as of 1 June 1941. There were a total of 77 of these machines in service at that time. They participated, if only briefly.

Oquaig

Csaba B. Stenge · #6 2nd April 2013, 13:54

I'd define this question more catiously (like I-17 was definitely a MiG, or like I-26 was for sure a Jak). The Axis pilots were not able to differentiate so distinctly between these new, until that time unknown types and later confused them regularly as well. There were scores of 'LaGG' claims against inline engined fighters, so many times against Jaks, or in unofficial materials they mentioned an inline fighter just as a 'Spitzmaus' (literally shrew) because of its sharp nose.

I-17 was definitely a new, inline engine Soviet fighter, which was different from the older, radial engined Polikarpov fighters. But better if you compare the actual inventory of the particular area's Soviet fighter units with these claims, than judge it as 'definitely' a MiG.