Normandie-Niemen

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Michael and all,

I would try to quote from the book that I do have from Chris Ehrengardt, published with HEIMDAL, which I do have stored on another house (so not at hand when I first read this thread); however the author himself answered you.

I can assure you, Michael, that this is a "magnifique travail", with some sketches of air combats, a lot of photographs and first hand accounts. The second book he do mention I do not know, but may be as good as the first one. If memory does not fail me, there are table losses, victory claims (tables) and original combat reports (with original sketches). What I can say, after 20+ years it was originally published, is that some lateral paintings (Osprey style) of the aircraft flown by some of proeminente persons of this famous Squadrons would have been welcomed, on the original book [cover enclosed]. However the style of publishing at that time was different...and the book STILL is a magnific work.

CJE > I never thought you were Ehrengardt!!! Several times you have helped me (on threads) and contributed onto this GREAT Forum. What I can say is: CONGRATULATIONS...and keep going! The books I do have from Heimdall are my great treasures...because they are in French and of excellent quality. It is a pitty one can not buy via internet from them....some of the 90's period books are no more available and the prices are extremely high, when one do find them.

GABOR > Thank your for sharing your great knowledge about Russian and Eastern Front activities...with guys like you contributing on the threads, we "sprogs" always learn something else...and this is the beauty of this FORUM....

May you all have a nice day, in health and Peace.

Adriano

[CJE]

Thanks for your appreciation.
I only worked from French sources but I assume they are as reliable as Russian ones.

[HGabor]

Division (303. IAD) commander of 1. OIAP "Normandie-Niemen" was General-Major Georgii Nefedovich Zakharov. He flew Yak-3 white "1", S/N: 310147 from Tbilisi. (31-01-47: 47th Yak-3 of batch No.01 in Tbilisi, Factory no.31)

Division structure of 1st Air Army, 303. IAD on February 5, 1945:

303. IAD (Div. Commander: Gen.Maj. Zakharov - Yak-3):

- 1. OIAP "Normandie-Niemen".......26 Yak-3
- 9. GvIAP....................................30 La-7
- 18. GvIAP..................................33 Yak-3
- 139. GvIAP................................26 Yak-3, 1 Yak-9D
- 523. IAP....................................14 La-7, 8 La-5

Gabor

[HGabor]

Pic of. a Normandie-Niemen Yak-3 at the end of 1944. The typical tactical marking digits of Saratov, factory No.292 (here '24') were applied as the "plane in the batch ID", still at the factory to make the ground crews' life easier on the front-line airfields. If for some reason a regiment used a unique marking system, then they overpainted these factory applied numbers, but these original digits can be easily recognized. Since in 1945 only Yak-3 S/N: 2432 had the plane ID '24' (in batch no.32), therefore this photo shows most likely Yak-3 S/N: 2432:

0327
0629
0630
0633
0729
1327
1437
2336
2432
2827
2936
3230
3237
3529
4733
4836
5035
5429
5938
6030
6428
6730
6737
7321
7329
7737
8029
8929
9128
9536
9635

[knusel]

Good morning,

can you tell me if Roland de la Poype's October 1944 kills were scored in the Yak-3 ?

Michael

[HGabor]

Michael,

Eg. on October 6, 1944 the 1. OIAP "Normandie", 18. GvIAP and 523. IAP regiments flew 102 sorties together with 56 Yak-3s and 16 La-5s. This means that "Normandie" used only Yak-3s during these sorties as only the 523. IAP was equipped with the La-5s. Other early October days also say that the 1. OIAP used Yak-3s, so I assume yes, he scored his October kills in a Yak-3.

Gabor

[knusel]

Dear Gabor,

this is of great help, thank you.
Can you tell me if Joseph Risso and Henri Foucaud scored all of their 1943 kills in the Yak-9 ?

I wish you a good afternoon,

Michael

[HGabor]

huh.... :-))))) Perhaps... But it takes time. ...and I should know the dates. I have no info on individual claims, max. the planes used on certain dates. But if they eg. used Yak-1b and Yak-9D fighters together, I won't know who flew which one. Cheers,
Gabor

[Flavio]

Originally Posted by HGabor

Pic of. a Normandie-Niemen Yak-3 at the end of 1944. The typical tactical marking digits of Saratov, factory No.292 (here '24') were applied as the "plane in the batch ID", still at the factory to make the ground crews' life easier on the front-line airfields. If for some reason a regiment used a unique marking system, then they overpainted these factory applied numbers, but these original digits can be easily recognized. Since in 1945 only Yak-3 S/N: 2432 had the plane ID '24' (in batch no.32), therefore this photo shows most likely Yak-3 S/N: 2432:

0327
0629
0630
0633
0729
1327
1437
2336
2432
2827
2936
3230
3237
3529
4733
4836
5035
5429
5938
6030
6428
6730
6737
7321
7329
7737
8029
8929
9128
9536
9635

Thanks Gabor,
very interestin info.

However the list seems missing Yak3 "44YY", the plane coded with original Saratov factory number "44"; this plane was flown by N-N top ace Jaques André. According to some source it was then re-coded "35".

Flavio

[HGabor]

Thanks Flavio, it is entirely possible, as this list is far from being colmplete. Obviously many losses are not listed here. If his Yak-3 had Saratov-style digits, then yes, it was the 44th plane of an unknown batch. (44yy) It is interesting, that eg. the 5th Air Army, 13th GvIAD marked the Saratov-built Yak-3s with the factory number (292) displayed in the centre in their documents, like: 1229217 (not just simply 1217), but Normadie-Niemen didn't. Unfortunately Normandie re-numbered their Yaks and did not keep the factory applied, original tactical numbers, referring to their S/N. Saratov factory No.292 used smaller, 'engineering-style', while Tbilisi factory No.31 used larger, rounded-style digits on their Yak-3s. Luckily, many fighter regiments kept the factory applied tactical (partial serial) numbers, eg. the 897 IAP, 150 GvIAP, etc., so if their serial plate is found at their crash-site, their tactical number is known and with the known regiment markings graphically can be reconstructed. Cheers,

Gabor