Soviet naval aircraft type

[HGabor]

Well, the white border red star became common by the end of 1942, while it co-existed for some months with the thin black border red star. Later the white border became very thick, especially on tail markings it was almost as wide as the small star itself. Silver borders (and occasionally some decorative yellow borders) are known too, but the white was the most common. The victory, or outline star (red star with wide white border and a thin red outline) was the main standard in 1944-45, in the final phase of the war. The fancy 'Kremlin star', ~3D type, shadowed star was also used on special planes, or guards units. But the bottom line is that this white border star on the Pe-2 in the picture was much later than 1941.

...and if we speak of markings... A very common error in Lavochkin La-5 and La-7 decals that they make factory applied white fuselage numbers with red outline! No, those large and white La-5 and La-7 tactical fuselage numbers, painted on still at the factories (as the last 2 digits of the aircraft serial numbers), so these white numbers had DARK BLUE border, or outline, NOT RED! Cheers,

Gabor