D-16 also known as ?

[ArtieBob]

I cannot confirm whether any Di-6 were operational, but I have seen German photos of Di-6 on captured airfield.


ArtieBob

[andrus]

My understanding is that DI-6 means "biplane with retractable landing gear".
In most cases it probably was actually I-153.


Kochyerigin DI-6 was known to germans, but I-153 was relatively new aircraft which was not yet in "Kennungsblatt" ?

[oquaig]

Hi everyone,


DI stands for Dvukhmestnyi Istrebitel (Two seat fighter). It resembled the single seat I-15bis, which was replacing it in 1938. Both were biplanes and both had a straight upper wing, unlike the I-153 which had an obviously gulled upper wing. The only difference being the rear gunner in an enclosed cockpit on the DI-6. I would think a keen eyed Luftwaffe pilot would know the difference. There were some 90 still in service in Leningrad, Baltic and Kiev Military districts as of 1 June 1941.


Cheers

[kirche]

Hello,
There are mentions that on June 1, 1941, 71 DI-6 aircraft were listed in the entire structure of the VVS RKKA (including rear districts and training units), of which 40 were faulty. But, for example, in the combat composition of the Air Force divisions of the Western, Southwestern, Southern and Karelian fronts in June-July 1941, none of these aircraft appears, as well as losses among them. The applications of German pilots (of which there are about 40) may correspond to the losses of the I-153 aircraft (also a biplane with a star-shaped engine and a retractable landing gear) or the I-15/I-15bis versions (but their landing gear was not removed).
Best regards,
Kirill

[oquaig]

A quick look at the "Jim P" list for 22/6/1941 shows:


22.06.41 Oblt. Karl Führing Stab IV./JG 51. DJ-6. 03.40. Film C. 2036/IIAnerk: Nr.6 (his fifth claim)
22.06.41 Maj. Friedrich Beckh. Stab IV./JG 51. DJ-6. 06.25. Film C.2036/IIAnerk: Nr.5 (his fifth claim)
22.06.41 Fw. Neuhoff 7./JG 53. DJ-6. 09.30. Film C. 2034Anerk: ASM (his eighth claim)
22.06.41 Oblt. Adolf Kinzinger. 1./JG 54 DJ-6 03.30. Film C.2036/II (his eighth claim)
22.06.41 Oblt. Adolf Kinzinger. 1./JG 54 DJ-6 03.30. Film C.2036/II (his nineth claim)

I still think a keen eyed Luftwaffe pilot would know the difference between a two seat straight wing and a single seat gull wing I-153.


Cheers

[Stig Jarlevik]

One point of interest which has nothing to do with the original request...

I notice that Kirill claims only 71 DI-6 was left in the entire VVS RKKA structure while Oquaig
state "some 90" remained.

May I ask why this difference?

Cheers
Stig