659 IAP KOLDUNOV

[HGabor]

Thanks. As of the night fighters, none of the 5 or 17 VA Bostons were modified for that purpose. They were all 4(+) crew-modified bombers, including the standard A-20Gs, which were originally built for a crew of 2, or 3. All 5&17 VA Bostons were modified with a nose navigator/bombardier cabin and even many of the new A-20Gs were reverted to older A-20B or -20C versions for better visibility from the nose. Only the latest A-20Js and A-20Ks were put in service intact. 17 VA had only 2-2 A-20J and A-20K models in 1945, - that's it. 5 VA had a single A-20K-11 (44-148) in 1945.

In the Museum we have huge amount of data on 5 & 17 VA indeed, (plane & AC engine serial-numbers, loss reports, crew lists for all Bostons, IL-2s & fighters), but its primary purose is to identify recovered planes to return the fallen soldiers to their families after 6-7, or more decades, via the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Budapest. Books (in English) for the most honored International Public may come later, but at this point it is not our primary goal. Our main goals are our recovery projects and co-operation with our Russian researcher friends and partners.
A BIG Thanks and credit to them for their help!!!!!!!!!

Gabor