"Soviet Aircraft Markings" Topic

I know that most Soviet aircraft in W.W.II did not have a red star on the upper wing surface, but I've also seen photos of some that did have red stars.

Was it just a rare event to have stars or was there a time frame. Did the medium bombers have them, but not the fighters?

Should I just put stars on what I want, when I want, as they are my planes anyway. If you don't like it I can just take my planes and go home.

Thanks in advance.

Stars are present mostly in 1941 or earlier planes. Mostly the obsolete planes like I-16, I-153, DB-3, etc. Some MiG-3 and LaGG-3 I've seen with top wing stars on pictures. I don't know about YaKs; I think not.

In 1942, very few top wing stars remained, and by 1943, I'm pretty sure none. So, no La-5, La-7, YaK-9 with top stars, except for a few rare cases, if that.

What I'd like to know is when the decision to remove them was made, and why (camouflage, surely, but still).

One reason I heard for the removal was that the Soviets usually did not fly at higher altitudes, there for it was common for German aircraft to be above them.

I know that the early war Soviet planes did not have O2, but I don't know about the later war models.

Hi

the job was to support the army…like artillery, not airsuperiority. And in that vein, the russuans usually did very close escort.

Thus, usually giving the germans the altitude advantage.

R

Might be something in Eric Pilowski's book "Soviet Air Force Fighter Colours 1941-45 or you could have a look round his website
vvs.hobbyvista.com
Basic rule is no upper wing stars unless you have a photo.