Red Air Force fuselage numbering

[Stig Jarlevik]

Hi Brian

The Soviet Union did not have any military serial number system as such.
Each unit used a so called Bort Number (don't know if they were called that during WW 2 or if they started to call them that later) usually consisting of two digits - a code system if you like.

For all other purposes, such as delivery data, unit assignments, maintenance/overhaul and losses, they used their assigned factory production numbers. In principal the same system as used by Germany and Japan.

The production numbers were stamped on a number of places on the aircraft so personal should have "easy" access to them. If any records were kept within the units to correlate the code digits with the production numbers is beyond me.

Each system used by military forces have its bonuses and drawbacks. No idea if anyone has ever tried to make a comparison which one works best. However it was obvious the Soviet Union believed in the system since they kept it until the Union broke up and it seems the Russians still do.

With regard to the SB production numbers, no idea if Gabor is correct or not.

Cheers
Stig