Spitfires in the Soviet Union.

[plan_D]

Does anyone know the operational history of the Spitfires that were sent to the Soviet Union on Lend-Lease?

 

[cheddar cheese]

no but ive seen several pictures of soviet spits, ill try and post em if yu like 8)

 

[nutter]

i know they had some mkvs most were sent to the moscow defence force i think ill see if i can find out some more

 

[Samu]

The only thing that I have find is this:

- Supply of Supermarine Spitfires to Soviet Union began early-1943 with transfer of 143 Mk VBs.
- 1,188 Mk IXs were supplied in 1943-44, and at least one Mk IX was modified in Russia to two-seat training configuration.
- After RAF detachments of PR Mk IVs to Northern Russia, two/three transferred to Soviet Air Force (May 1944).
- During the war, 16 russian Spitfires were shot down by finish Buffalos.

 

[cheddar cheese]

wow, they look even better in russian markings! 8)

 

[Crazy]

wow, they look even better in russian markings! 8)

It's debatable wether they look BETTER, but they sure do look good 8) 8)

 

[cheddar cheese]

any plane with a russian star looks better than one with a roundal/swastika on it 8)

 

[Crazy]

I wonder if we could get your rank changed to Base Communist?

I prefer an RAF roundel or an American star to a Russian star any day

 

[kiwimac]

Samu wrote

Supply of Supermarine Spitfires to Soviet Union began early-1943 with transfer of 143 Mk VBs.
- 1,188 Mk IXs were supplied in 1943-44, and at least one Mk IX was modified in Russia to two-seat training configuration.
- After RAF detachments of PR Mk IVs to Northern Russia, two/three transferred to Soviet Air Force (May 1944).
- During the war, 16 russian Spitfires were shot down by finish Buffalos.

Hell, I didn't know the Russians were using blind people as pilots!

Kiwimac

 

[kiwimac]

Plan_D

Try the following site : http://www.internetelite.ru/aircrafts/indexq.html

It doesn't tell you a lot but it may help.

Kiwimac

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

i would like to say i have a new found respect for the stuka after making it's model....................

 

[HammerDown]

Yeah, the Fins really rocked the Russian air force...

I read a very intresting article about it in the April 2004 edition of World War II magazine.

It basically states that the Fins had crappy planes but still overcame most of the Russian pilots.

It told stories of how it was so cold, the mechanics had to take all the liquid out of the engine overnight and then put it back in early in the morning....

(Nothing to do with aviation)> I also posted in another forum, and this one Finnish guy said his great grandfather was in the Finnish infantry and when they were in the trenches, the Fins brought up water hoses and sprayed water over to the Russian trenches and the Russians just froze to death......

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

i once went camping and it was so cold my mars bar froze rock solid.............

(p.s., why is it that when I try to get up the smilies it just says "hacking attempt 1"?)

 

[Samu]

Hell, I didn't know the Russians were using blind people as pilots!

This is a link to a complet (really big) list with all air-to-air kills confirmed to Finnish Air Force Brewster pilots during the "Continuation War," 1941-1944: http://www.danford.net/scores.htm

 

[plan_D]

Thanks everyone that stayed on the topic. Thanks for the information.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

ok i don't care what you say, that WAS a dig at me

 

[plan_D]

That was, yes.

 

[Dan]

i haven't heard of a russian spitfire but i've heard that the russians also used american p-40 warhawks

 

[toffi]

Some Spitfires were used as a typical fighters (Finnish Air Force downed some) and there were also reconaissance Spits in Soviet Air Force.

 

[Lightning Guy]

The Russians used a lot of Western designed aircraft. Basically, they would use whatever they could get their hands on (the P-39 being a good example).