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| VSS 773 IAP  Aeropace Museum 2009  Justin Taylan 2010 |
Pilot Lt Ivan Ivanovich Baranovsky (MIA / KIA, BR) Crashed November 19, 1944 Aircraft History Built by Bell in Buffalo, New York. Contract AC-40071. This plane was originally part of a production batch 44-2850 to 44-3000 that was designated as lend-lease to the United Kingdom (UK) but instead were transfered under lend-lease to the Soviet Union (USSR). At the factory, painted in U.S. markings for the ferry flight. Completed November 23, 1943. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-39Q-15-BE Airacobra serial number 44-2911. By December 22, 1943 available for issue. Wartime History This Airacobra was ferried from Buffalo, New York across the United States via Canada to Alaska where it was turned over as part of lend-lease to the Soviet Union (USSR) to the Voyenno-Vozdushnye Sily (VSS). The first phase of the ferry flight was across the United States: First leg: December 25, 1943 took off from Buffalo Airfield in Buffalo, New York on the first leg of the ferry flight to South Bend Airfield in South Bend, Indiana then was delayed a day due to bad weather. Second leg: December 30, 1943 took off from South Bend Airfield on the second leg of the ferry flight to Fargo Airfield (Hector Airport) in Fargo, North Dakota and remained overnight. Third leg: December 31, 1943 took off from South Bend Airfield on the third leg to Great Falls Army Airfield (Malmstrom AFB) in Great Falls, Montanta. The second phase of the ferry flight was across Canada: Fourth leg: January 5, 1944 took off from Great Falls Army Airfield (Malmstrom AFB) into Canada. Over four days, this Airacobra landed at several airfields along the Great Falls-Edmonton route before reaching Fairbanks in Alaska. On January 9, 1944 with 20 hours of flight time by the accepted by the Soviet Air Force (VSS) Foreign Department in Fairbanks. On February 1, 1944, flown from Fairbanks to Siberia by Soviet pilot from the 1 Ferry Aviation Division (1PAD) over the Alaska-Siberia (ALSIB) route from Nome Airfield then across the Bearing Strait to Anadyr Airfield. Next, took off from Anadyr Airfield piloted by Shishkin and flown to Markovo Airfield and remained for the rest of the month. On March 4, 1944 serviced by the VSS for the first time. Next, flown by the 2 PAP (2nd Ferry Aviation Division) to Sejmchan Airfield. Next, flown by 3 PAP (3rd Ferry Aviation Division) to Yakutsk Airfield and on March 6, 1944 serviced. Then flown by 4 PAP (4th Ferry Aviation Division) pilot Korolyov to Kirensk Airfield and on March 9, 1944 serviced. Next, flown by 5 PAP (5th Ferry Aviation Division) to Krasnoyarsk Airfield at the end of the ferry route. Assigned to 773 Fighter Aviation Regiment (773 IAP) with Soviet markings and nose number 23 painted in white (White 23). Afterwards, flown to Novinka Airfield. On June 4, 1944 flown by pilot Golovnyov and other flights were made until the middle of July 1944 when the regiment moved to Videlitsa. On July 18, 1944 assigned to pilot Lt Ivan Ivanovich Baranovsky with crew chief Vetlich. Between June 21, 1944 until August 9, 1944 aircraft participated in the "Svir Operation" over Finland. During air combat against the Finnish Air Force, 773 IAP claimed the shoot down of six Morane-Saulnier MS406 and one Brewster Buffalo. They lost at least nine Airacobras. During August 1944 this Airacobra was only flown 4 hours and likely was under repair with strengthening support added to the fuselage and tail. In September 1944 flew 16 flights totaling 15 hours, 45 minutes. In October 1944 operated from Murmashi Airfield south of Murmansk area and flew 13 flights totaling 12 hours, 38 minutes. At some point, this Airacobra had a replacement tail attached with a different serial number with "7" as one of the digits in the SN. On October 9, 1944 took off on two sorties in the same day against Luftwaffe aircraft from JG5, III and IV. Mission History On November 19, 1944 took off from Murmashi Airfield piloted by Ivan Baranovsky on a transfer flight 65 miles to the northwest bound for Luostari Airfield. This Airacobra was loaded with extra boxes of ammunition and tins of food inside the wing ammunition bays. Baranovsky went out of sight and did not arrive at Luostari Airfield. When he failed to arrive he was reported as Missing In Action (MIA). In fact, Baranovsky suffered engine failure when at least two cylinders broke through the engine block and caused severe vibrations. With enough time to prepare for a the belly landing, he unbuckled his harness force landing wheels up on thin ice of Lake Mart-Yavr roughly 29 km southeast of Luostari Airfield and died in the cockpit, likely he was knocked unconscious during the landing and trapped and drowned or froze to death. Wreckage This aircraft remained in situ underwater at a depth of 16' / 5m in Lake Mart-Yavr covered in a layer of silt. During the early 2000, the aircraft was spotted by a local fisherman who saw the outline of an aircraft in the crystal clear water. Recovery On October 6, 2004 this aircraft was salvaged from the lake. Inside the cockpit was the remains of the pilot Baranovsky plus personal effects including a shoe and his Order of Glory medal and Military Red Banner medal. Memorials After the recovery of remains on October 6, 2004 Baranovsky remains were buried with full military honors at the Glory Valley Memorial, near the Litza Valley to the northwest of Murmansk. Export The salvaged Airacobra was transported to Moscow. During 2005 an export license was issued then shipped to Mr. Jim Pearce in West Sussex in the United Kingdom. Display In 2009, acquired by the Ira G. Ross Aerospace Museum (Niagra Aerospace Museum) and shipped to Buffalo, NY. Known as "Miss Lend Lease". During August 2010, restoration work has been undertaken, removing the engine and other components for repair and preservation work. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-39Q-15-BE Airacobra 44-2911 "2850/3000 Lend-Lease to UK, transferred to USSR 2911 to USSR. Suffered engine fire and bellylanded in frozen lake Mart-Yavr Nov 29, 1944. Pilot killed. Recovered from the lake in 2004, pilot's remains found in the cockpit. and wreckage arrived in UK Jan 2005. Transferred to Bell Aircraft plant in 2009 for restoration. Currently on display at Niagra Aerospace Museum, Buffalo, New York." Lend Lease Air Force - Lieutenant Ivan Baranovsky’s P-39 An Airacobra’s Journey to the Eastern Front…and Backby Tim Right (reprint of Air & Space Magazine article September 2011 with corrections and comments) Lend Lease Air Force RU - Bell P-39Q 44-2911 Airacobra via Wayback Machine June 2, 2019 Ira G. Ross Aerospace Museum - Historic P-39 Comes Home Vimeo Video - Bringing Her Home AP "History written on plane's surface" by Chris Carola Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated March 16, 2023 |
 P-39  Photo Archive  16' / 5m Formally |
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