Nazi jets flown by Reds x 3

[comrade harps]

PAC VNF-GJI Fritter/ PAC GIT-PMI Kit
Dziwnow, Peoples Socialist Republic of Poland
10 May, 1950

When the Red Army liberated the Mittelwerke Heinkel He 162 factory ahead of the area's occupation by American troops, they swiftly took away much that was salvagable. Jigs, components and assemblies were transported to Poland, where 73 He 162A-2s were completed as the VNF at the former PZL factory at Mielec, now known as the Polish Aviation Cooperative's (PAC) Factory 03 (PAC F03). Also completed at PAC's Factory 03 were 16 GITs, Polish assembled versions of the Arado E.377 flying bomb. As per German plans, the Reds combined the VNF with the GIT into a Mistel combination for a series of trails.

In May 1950, only 2 VNF/GIT combinations were extant. One was unserviceable but a VNF-JGI/GIT-PMI combo was flight ready. The GIT-PMI was an experimental radar equipped version, the radar being housed in a large wing-top pod (and balanced by a pod of similar shape housing ballast).



Although project engineers thought that it was unlikely to work, this combination was tasked to support the Red Navy's Baltic breakout, to target the UN vessels blockading the exit to the Altlantic. With the VNF being flown by Test Pilot Zbigniew Boniek, the combination reached the Skagerrak battle zone and targeted an unidentified vessel but the GIT failed to retain its radar lock and crashed short. Boniek briefly straffed a Norwegian warship before returning safely to base.



Kit: 1:72nd Dragon Mistel 5.
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PAC CDE-LOZ Banger
Blue 29, 2nd Escradrile, People's Navy of Poland, Red Navy Baltic Fleet
Siemirowice, Peoples Socialist Republic of Poland
10 May, 1950

Another German type put into production by the Reds in Poland, this time at PAC's Factory 06 (PAC F06), was the Arado 234C bomber as the CDE. The LOZ version seen here featured a Soviet built surface search radar based on the British H2S, the operator seated in a tiny, windowless compartent aft of the cockpit and entered from below (the seat folding against the hatch door).

Flown by an unidentified crew, Blue 29 took part in the sinking of the Royal Navy frigate HMS Bligh (K467) during the Baltic Breakout.


Kit: 1:72nd Dragon Arado Ar 234C-3/C-4

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Avia S 92R Turbina
White 19, Yugoslav Air Force
Ljubljana-Brnik, Yugoslavia, 19 May, 1950

Major Predrag Mijatovic was the pilot of this remarkably painted aircraft when it was used for a series of recce missions along Yugoslavia's borders as the Red Army and their Trotskyist revolutionary supporters stormed their way through Western Europe in May, 1950. Declared neutral and and fearful of attack, the nation's President Tito had put his forces on a high state of alert and the photos brought back by Mijatovic were vital in providing intelliegence on what all sides were doing along the nation's borders.




This aircraft was one of just 8 Turbinas acquired in 1948 from the Czechoslovak factory that had resumed building the Me 262 in 1946. By May 1950, only 4 of the 8 remained airworthy. The unusual camouflage of White 19, the only recce model purchased, was the result of a camouflage trail coducted in the winter of 1949-50. It was retained for intended display during the 1950 summer air display season, but world events meant that such PR opportunities became redundant. The yellow fuselage and nose bands were neutrality bands added on the 4th May.



Kit: 1:72 Revell Me-262A-1a/U3
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comrade harps

[AeroplaneDriver]

 

Beautiful work, great backstory, though I must admit that I expected to see Red Arrows Salamanders when I opened the thread! 

Most of these would be great fodder for the (hopefully) future "Gray Pride GB".

[Maverick]

Tasty work Tov,

The camos are particularly nice.

Regards,

Mav

[McGreig]

I think that these are great  I especially like the colour scheme on the Mistel and the tip tanks on the Ar-234  For another take on a Soviet Mistel see www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,17547.0.html

[Sisko]

I like the camo job on the Me262!

Very nice!!!

[lancer]

Amazing job on all 3 builds. Especially like the polish 234, and the cammo scheme on that 262 makes it look very shark like. Awsome job.

[John Howling Mouse]

Beautiful work.  It's like you have your own Group Build in a single thread.   

[comrade harps]

Update: I forgot to add the ASSC reporting name for the Turbina... Foghorn C.

It's like you have your own Group Build in a single thread.

Actually, funny you should mention that, because I now realise that I left 1 off, so now it's "x4". .. and lets see who can identify the source butterfly tails first!

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HRT-ENN Frisky B
Red 23, 235 Interceptor Regiment
Vladivostock, USSR
9 May, 1950

Like other German designed jets that entered production in the Socialist Union following the technological windfall of 1945, the HRT was considered an interim type pending the development of superior indeginous aircraft. The idea was to  use these types to speed the learning curve on jet production, operation and design. Based on the German Horten IX, the Soviets built only 164 HRTs following further development by a team lead by the Italian born Communist, Roberto Bartini. Equipping two regiments, they were based in defence of Moscow and Vladivostock from 1948 until late 1951.




Red 23 was the first Frisky in combat, when Combat Pilot Gregor Borovik shot down a SAC RB-29A on the 9th of May, 1950 in Soviet airspace near Vladivostock.

[ysi_maniac]

Tasty work Tov,

The camos are particularly nice.

Regards,

Mav

AGREED 

[McGreig]

so now it's "x4". .. and lets see who can identify the source butterfly tails first!

They look like the tailplanes from the Matchbox F4U Corsair.
Interesting modification and another nice model   

[GTX]

Love that Frisky - I've never thought of doing a Soviet Horten.

Regards,

Greg

[Arc3371]

Excellent builds but you should probably change "Trotskyist revolutionary supporters" to something else since Stalin drove Trotsky into exile and then had him murdered

[comrade harps]

you should probably change "Trotskyist revolutionary supporters" to something else since Stalin drove Trotsky into exile and then had him murdered

In which universe was that? Everyone knows that Trotsky had a show-down with Stalin, staged an abortive coup with Red Army help but eventually won the 1923-25 Second Russian Civil War  (as it is known by the capitalists) or the Great Stuggle Against Counter-Revolution as it is known in the Socialst Union.

Stalin defeating Trotsky, now there's a whole whatif universe theme in itself!

comrade harps

[sotoolslinger]

Love the builds, awesome paint!   I love the backstory, is there more? Have you read any Harry Turtledove? 

[comrade harps]

I love the backstory, is there more? Have you read any Harry Turtledove? 

That's the only Nazi jets flown by Reds I have so far (I would love to add a Me 262B-2 (Foghorn D) night fighter though), but all the models I do are part of the same universe, so all my threads are related to the same back story.

As for Tutledove, I'm familiar with the works, but haven't actually read any; I'm too busy creating and modelling my own universe.

Thanks for all the kind words.

comrade harps