3 digits

three digits: 220 and 564

Last Modified on February 25, 2005

These aircrafts were captured by Germans, and were characterized by white 3-digits numbers on the fuselage sides.
Their characteristcs looks:

early type, without slats;
without radio devices;
painted green with light blue undersurfaces ( not uniform; as on other aircrafts, it looks that both colors on the metal parts are lighter than on the wooden ones);
red stars, probably in six positions (wings and fuselage);
red fin/rudder tip with white outline;
silver propeller blades with partially black painted rear surface (as standard);.

These photos show the aircraft as wrecks surrounded by Germans.
A noteworthy characteristic is the light spot on both rear fuselages.
This is probably due to Germans that removed part of the fuselage fabric layer to hide the red stars.
Such marking could create confusion in German pilots approaching the occupied airfield.
The light parts so shown should appear yellowish because of the putty color.
In a second time, aircraft n. 564 was put tail-up by Germans to save space, while this was not possible for 220, that was stable only with its tail down because of the engine absence.
The slightly snowy ground suggests the idea that the photo was taken on November 1941, and the aircraft, of early version, were there since the summer.

from MiG piston-engined fighters of Gordon and Dexter

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