Uzbek MiG-17F Fresco C

[comrade harps]

Socialist Unity Aviation Collective (SUAC) MiG-17F Fresco C
Blue 20, Maksim Shatskikh Escuadrille, Tarafoui, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria
Personal mount of Flight Leader Jaloliddin Masharipov, 27 October 1955



In December 1941, the Jadid Brotherhood of Nations (JBN) agreed to send ground and aviation forces to support the Allies in North Africa. Although the British were aware that the JBN's motivation was propagandist in nature, the imperialist power was desperate for assistance and accepted the offer. The Foreign Office was particularly keen to point out the potential value of the Islamic Jadid movement as a counter to Germany's recruitment of Muslim collaborators. 





The British kept the deployed ground units away from the frontline and used them as garrison and logistical support troops. This suited the JBN fine, as it meant that they could mingle with the Arab populace and do good deeds, such as establishing Jadid mosques and schools and facilitating the distribution of liberated Allied stores to civilians. In the meantime, the aviators of the Jadid Expeditionary Air Squadron (JEAS, pronounced in English as jees) performed daring do that grabbed imaginations via newspaper headlines and newsreel footage. Flying Hawker Hurricanes, the unit strafed and bombed the German and Italian Fascists until their withdrawal from North Africa in 1943. By then, the Jadid movement had made lasting inroads into North Africa that would result in the Jadid Revolutions in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia that paved the way for the Moscow Pact's liberation of the Mahgreb from UN occupation in 1954.





Among JEAS' personnel was Jaloliddin Masharipov, a young Uzbek aircraft fitter. Masharipov had always wanted to fly, but had washed out in primary flight training. He remained with the JEAS until August 1944, reaching the rank of Sergeant as they made their way through Sicily and into Italy. Returning home after the Great Betrayal, he joined the Uzbekistan Civilian Air School as a maintenance chief, but most importantly, earned a civilian pilot's license in 1947. With the outbreak of war again in 1950, he rejoined the Uzbekistan People's Air Force as a pilot. After additional training, he was commissioned as a Flight Leader in the Pyotr Yakovlev Escuadrille, flying the MiG-15bis, in 1953. In August 1954 he transferred to the Maksim Shatskikh Escuadrille, named after Uzbekistan's leading ace in the War Against Stalinism. Flying MiG-17Fs, the unit deployed to Tafaroui in liberated Algeria in mid-February 1955. 









During his 9 month deployment to North Africa, Flight Leader Jaloliddin Masharipov was credited with 7 confirmed victories against UN aircraft, as follows:

- 26 February: USAF B-57B
- 15 April: USAF F-84F
- 17 April: Brazilian Air Force (EMBRAER made) F-86F
- 6 May: USAF F-84F 
- 14 June: SAAF (Koolhoven made) F-86F 
- 21 August: RCAF Sabre 5
- 27 October: USAF F-86F 





Blue 20 is depicted here as photographed following his 7th victory on 27 October 1955. Returning to Uzbekistan, Masharipov served as an instructor pilot before returning to combat in 1957 as the Escuadrille Leader of the Pyotr Yakovlev Escuadrille flying MiG-19S Farmers. He returned again in 1962 for his final combat deployment, this time as a Regiment Leader flying the MiG-21F-13 Fishbed C. Surviving all of this with just a single ejection (from a MiG-19S shot down by a USAF F-100C pilot), Masharipov retired from combat duties with an impressive 32 confirmed kills. 

[NARSES2]

Particularly like the colour scheme 

[comrade harps]

Particularly like the colour scheme 

Thanks, so do l.

[Old Wombat]

I frequently like the comrade's camo schemes!

Sometimes even more than the model itself!

[chrisonord]

That looks absolutely spot on and the back story an excellent read.

[Vulcan7]

Another beauty     

[su27rules]

  

[Wardukw]

Very attractive colour scheme 😉 😀

[comrade harps]

I frequently like the comrade's camo schemes!

Sometimes even more than the model itself!

l paint better than l build.

[kerick]

You build pretty well if you ask me.
There seems to be a dilemma amongst us model builders (as many before me have mentioned) as to wether we would rather build or paint. I myself would like to build all day and leave most of the painting to others. Many among us would rather paint rocks than assemble stuff. I exaggerate a little but you know what I mean. Probably caused by being better at one step than the other so preferring that step over the other. Personally, I should put down this phone and learn to paint better to alleviate my frustration with it. At least I might get more done that way! Anyway, I appreciate every build here and I think I learn a little something from each one. This started out as a compliment and turned into an essay so forgive me for being windy for a moment. Keep building my friends. Now back to your regularly scheduled program!

[Sport21ing]

Awesome 

[comrade harps]

You build pretty well if you ask me.
There seems to be a dilemma amongst us model builders (as many before me have mentioned) as to wether we would rather build or paint. I myself would like to build all day and leave most of the painting to others. Many among us would rather paint rocks than assemble stuff. I exaggerate a little but you know what I mean. Probably caused by being better at one step than the other so preferring that step over the other. Personally, I should put down this phone and learn to paint better to alleviate my frustration with it. At least I might get more done that way! Anyway, I appreciate every build here and I think I learn a little something from each one. This started out as a compliment and turned into an essay so forgive me for being windy for a moment. Keep building my friends. Now back to your regularly scheduled program!

You are forgiven.

[kerick]

You build pretty well if you ask me.
There seems to be a dilemma amongst us model builders (as many before me have mentioned) as to wether we would rather build or paint. I myself would like to build all day and leave most of the painting to others. Many among us would rather paint rocks than assemble stuff. I exaggerate a little but you know what I mean. Probably caused by being better at one step than the other so preferring that step over the other. Personally, I should put down this phone and learn to paint better to alleviate my frustration with it. At least I might get more done that way! Anyway, I appreciate every build here and I think I learn a little something from each one. This started out as a compliment and turned into an essay so forgive me for being windy for a moment. Keep building my friends. Now back to your regularly scheduled program!

You are forgiven.

I think covid is still messing with me.

[zenrat]

Good job Comrade.
 

[DogfighterZen]

Good job indeed!