Normandie-Niemen

[knusel]

Hello gentlemen,

can anybody tell me when exactly the Normandie-Niemen pilots transitioned from Yak1 to Yak9 and from Yak9 to Yak3 ?
The dates given in the literature are conflicting.
The cieldegloire website implies that all 1943 kills were Yak1 kills, all 1944 kills were Yak9 kills and all 1945 kills were Yak3 kills. Is that valid ?

Cheers,

Michael

[Graham Boak]

This would be consistent with descriptions of the unit operating three separate campaigns (or tours of duty), resting in between and being re-equipped. I'm sorry but I don't know the precise dates of these tours.

[knusel]

The largest scoring gaps (which may correspond to requipment activities) were Oct43-Jun44 and Oct44-Dec44.
However, the first Yak9's are said to have been received 12Jul43 and the first Yak3's 1Aug44.
Maybe this corresponds to the scoring gaps of Jun/Jul43 (20 days) and Aug/Sep44 (18 days).

[CJE]

Twelve brand-new Yak-9s were handed over to the French on 5 July 1943.
They helped to set up two escadrilles (squadrons): 1st "Rouen" led by Cdt Pouyade, and 2nd "Le Havre" led by Cne Littolff. Their Yak-1s were transfered to the Soviets and only one was kept.
Yak-3: 20 brand-new machines on 20.08.44 and 10 more on 22.09.
Normandie-Niémen never had more than 34 Yak-3s in first line, new aircraft just made up for losses.

Chris Ehrengardt, author of two books on Normandie-Niémen.

[HGabor]

Just some data on their Yak-1b planes:

Yak-1b No. 16119 was lost on May 7, 1943 - pilot: Aspirant Yves Mahé (POW?)
Yak-1b No. 33112, engine No. 4-1571 was evacuated on November 25, 1943.
Yak-1b No. 44114, engine No. 4-1943 was evacuated on November 25, 1943.

Cheers,
Gabor

[knusel]

Hello Mr. Ehrengardt,

cool. I've heard about you and your books.

Can we say that the NN aces mainly flew the
Yak-1 from the beginning until July 1943
Yak-9 from July 1943 until August 1944
Yak-3 from August 1944 until the end

?

I wish you a good start into a successful new week,

Michael

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Originally Posted by HGabor

Just some data on their Yak-1b planes:

Yak-1b No. 16119 was lost on May 7, 1943 - pilot: Aspirant Yves Mahé (POW?)
Yak-1b No. 33112, engine No. 4-1571 was evacuated on November 25, 1943.
Yak-1b No. 44114, engine No. 4-1943 was evacuated on November 25, 1943.

Cheers,
Gabor

Hello Gabor, can you please tell me which is your source for these losses ? Some years ago I have made some searches for such details in French archives but was not successfull.

Best regards

[HGabor]

From TsAMO Archives via Russian researchers.

[HGabor]

Few pages from Russian diary... Normandia-Nemen Yak-9 dogfight in July, 1943.

[HGabor]

1 VA, 303 IAD, Normandia-Nemen also had the following Saratov (Zavod 292. built) Yak-3 (with details)s:

Yak-3, S/N: 4836, engine: 442-1105 - Asp. Pierre Donarre ?
Yak-3, S/N: 6730, engine: 512-274 - S/Lt Marcel Lefevre
Yak-3, S/N: 5938, engine: 442-1030 - Marcel Perrin, delivered on March 10, 1945.


Known 1 VA, 303 IAD, Normandia-Nemen Saratov-built Yak-3 serials in 1945:

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

Meaning of Saratov built Yak-3 serials: XXyy -> , where XX = plane ID within batch, yy = Batch No.

Known Normandia-Nemen Yak-1B S/N:
29117
16119
33112
44114

Meaning of Saratov built Yak-1 serials: XXyyy -> , where XX = plane ID within batch, yyy = Batch No.

Known Normandia-Nemen (Novosibirsk, Zavod 153-built) Yak-9D S/N:

1515330 (15-153-30 = The 30th Yak-9D of the 15th batch in Novosibirsk, Factory No.153)
(Lindr1, Russia)

Cheers,
Gabor