The Yakovlev Yak-3 In Profile

By Chris Banyai-Riepl

History

Considered by many to be the ultimate Yakovlev piston-engined fighter, the Yak-3 quickly became the favorite of those that flew it. Because of problems with the development of the powerful Klimov M-107 engine, the Yakovlev engineers decided to further refine the aerodynamics of their existing fighter designs, with the result of a dimunitive fighter weighing in at only 2132kg and powered with a mere 1260hp. The aerodynamic refinements were astounding, with the Yak-3 achieving 565km/h at sea level and 645km/h at 4300 meters. It could best just about anything in the air, as French pilots in the Normandie-Niemen Regiment found out: in one month that unit destroyed over 100 German aircraft for the loss of only three Yak-3s. When offered their choice of any Allied fighter (Soviet, British, and American aircraft all were offered), the pilots of this unit resoundingly chose the Yak-3. The Yak-3 was truly the pinnacle of development for the Yakovlev OKB during the Great Patriotic War.

The Profiles

Building off the work I did for Erik Pilawskii's book, Soviet Air Force Fighter Colours 1941-1945 (Available from Specialty Press), I have again sought the assistance of Erik's copious knowledge of matters VVS and came up with these new and interesting Yak-3 schemes.

Yak-3 "White 1"
303 IAD
General Georgiy Zakharov
1944

This aircraft is a fairly well-recognized Yak-3, as a General flying combat missions was not a common (and therefore something to be documented) occurence. This profile illustration appears in Erik's book.

An 11x17 print of this aircraft is available here.

Yak-3 "White 13"
515 IAP
Pilot Unknown
Rechlin, May 1945

The photo of this aircraft shows it sitting among many destroyed Luftwaffe aircraft, as would be expected at the end of the war in Germany. It carries eleven victory stars above the main fuselage star.

An 11x17 print of this aircraft is available here.

Yak-3 "White 185"
66 GIAP
Pilot Unknown
1945

Not much is known about this aircraft. The unit is likely to be 66 GIAP, according to the leading researchers at this time.

An 11x17 print of this aircraft is available here.

Yak-3 "White 63"
66 GIAP (ex-875 IAP)
Lt. Chistikov
Manchuria, 1945

This is one is definitely from 66 GIAP, fighting in the east. Note the block style of numerals, not very common on VVS fighters.

An 11x17 print of this aircraft is available here.

Yak-3 "White 8"
Normandie-Niemen Regiment, 303 IAD
Pilot Unknown
Summer 1945

This aircraft is fairly well documented, and Erik has put together a complete three-view drawing of the camouflage pattern of the aircraft, found here.

An 11x17 print of this aircraft is available here.

Yak-3 "White 360"
150 GIAP
Podpolk. A. N. Yakimenko, CO
Austria, 1945

This incredibly colorful aircraft carries a stylized flag on the tail with the inscription "Na Rodinu s Pobedoy," which translates to "Back to the Motherland, with Victory."

An 11x17 print of this aircraft is available here.

References

Geust, Carl-Frederik, Kalevi Keskinen, and Kari Stenman. Red Stars: Soviet Air Force in World War Two. Kangasala, Finland: Ar-Kustannus Oy, 1993.

Gordon, Yefim and Dmitri Khazanov. Soviet Combat Aircraft of the Second World War, Volume One: Single-Engined Fighters. Hinckley, Leics., England: Midland Counties Publications, 1998.

________. Yakovlev's Piston-Engined Fighters. Hinckley, Leics., England: Midland Counties Publications, 2002.

Pilawskii, Erik. Soviet Air Force Fighter Colours 1941-1945. Hersham, Surrey, England: Classic Publications, 2003.

Modeling the Aircraft of the Soviet VVS 1930-1950