Red Yugoslavian IK-3

[comrade harps]

Rogozarski IK-3
Unknown location and date, Yugoslavian Partisans, late 1944


Following the German invasion of Yugoslavia and the installation of a Fascist Croatian government, continued production of the indigenous IK-3 fighter was permitted by the Germans. Although repeated plans for developed versions to be powered by the DB 601 and DB 605 (or their Italian built copies) were dashed, small-scale production was maintained using a combination of French and Czech-built Avia H.S. 12Ycrs, some of the French engines being taken from un-airworthy Morane-Saulnier M.S.406s delivered in 1942-43. Likewise, plans for improving the armament to include German machines guns and cannon came to naught, but some late production examples (such as depicted here) featured Breda-SAFAT 7.7mm MGs in under-wing fairings.


This late production Ik-3 was one of five captured and used by Tito's Red Yugoslavian Partisans in 1944-45. Little is known about their deployment, but at least one German Ju-52 and a Croatian He-111H were reportedly shot down by them. The type remained in limited service until mid-1946.

[sequoiaranger]

Looks nice, like a "Texaco" oil* fighter!

*The Texas Oil Company has/had a logo VERY similar.

[comrade harps]

*The Texas Oil Company has/had a logo VERY similar.

I got those markings from a Soviet P-39 kit and I've also seen photos of Leand-Lease Thunderbolts wearing that marking prior to delivery to the USSR. Taking a peek at Wings Palette, there are several P-39s with this marking:

This one has the following note:

Pilot - Konstantin Sukhov, Eastern Germany, Spring 1945. '50' was one of the 16 GIAP's colorful P-39Ns that retained its Buffalo applied white disc. Indeed, it must have done so for quite some time, as Sukhov was photographed piloting this aircraft in eastern Germany during 1945! The aircraft appears to have remained in its delivered condition, save for a red spinner and flash on the fin/rudder, this trimmed in white. Other P-39Qs of this unit demonstrate stars on white discs applied asymmetrically on the wings in the USAAF fashion, and it seems likely that '50' is also so marked.

I like to merge what if with elements of reality.

I figure that since the aircraft is captured, that Tito's boys and girls may have firstly been required to over paint Croat markings and secondly to have applied their own in a high-vis ones to avoid friendly fire. I had these decals in the stash so I went with them.

[Hotte]

Tito forces captured at least one MS 406 and Fiat G. 50.
Look:


http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww2/f/352/103/0/1

http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww2/f/351/103/0/1

Hotte

[Pablo1965]

Nice scheme and unusual plane.