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This site is a joint 
venture of several 
air enthusiasts 
from Minsk. For some 
years we edited and 
published  the only 
aviation magazine 
in Belarus - the "AeroPlan". 
But present situation is
 such,  that we find it 
better to carry out our 
beloved job in virtual 
space.

Yak-1b of I.N.Stepanenko

One of the most mysterious schemes I have met: Yak-1b of I.N.Stepanenko, seen in Spring 1943 over Kuban. The aircraft was donated by Saratov collective farmers in the end of 1942 and, according to the pilot's memoirs, was delivered in some kind of winter camouflage. Donated aircraft at the period carried red signs under the cabin, usually on both sides. The photo in Stepanenko's memoirs clearly depicted only the part, shown in fragment. There is no traces of donation sign. There are no color demarcation lines. Fin is also visible, and there is no star on it. The finish appears to be very light and clean, not like winter overwash. I assumed, that the aircraft was repainted Gray, but Light Blue overall is also possible. Red spinner was mentioned in the text of memoirs.