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Camouflage Examples of the La-5


La-5F "White 17"
pilot u/k
3 GIAP VMF-KBF
ca. summer 1944
Camouflage Colors: AMT-4/-6/-7

    La-5F "White 17" was photographed in service with the 3 GIAP KBF (Baltic Fleet) during 1944. Several examples of this photograph have appeared in various sources, the best of these probably being the picture presented in Red Stars. The pilot of "17" has yet to be identified.
    This aircraft is wearing a classic mid-1943 era camouflage pattern which was used at all three La-5 factories, and from Moscow and Ulan-Ude in AMT lacquers only. "17" is indeed finished in AMT colors 4/6/7, and the cowl bands appear to have been unpainted. The exhaust port flaps are also unfinished, which is a bit unusual, but in all other respects this aircraft is a classic example of this scheme. The spinner and rudder have been painted white, but some significant wear is just becoming obvious on the rudder surfaces, which are beginning to show the underlying color. The use of the plain red stars is also notable, and a bit 'old fashioned' for the likely date of manufacture (mid-'43).
    "White 17" is wearing plain red star insignia in six positions, as shown. The rudder and spinner have been painted white, and no 'motor-type' logo (see below) is present on the cowling.


La-5F "White 66"
pilot u/k
21 IAP
ca. summer 1944
Camouflage Colors: AMT-11/-12/-7

    This very attractive La-5F was photographed in service with the 21 IAP during the summer of 1944. The pilot of "66" is unknown.
    "White 66" wears a very typical example of the 1944 NKAP fighter template camouflage as implemented on the La-5 programme. The classic wavy 'scribble' feature is present on the port nose and port wing, while the starboard fuselage is slightly unique in the color pattern under the cockpit area and on the rear fuselage. The lacquers are AMT-11/-12/-7, and the large white tactical numerals are quite common from Zavod 21 (Gor'ki). The cowl bands appear to have been unpainted. These two La-5F aircraft make for a fascinating contrast between VVS camouflage practices from 1943 to 1944.
    "66" wears white bordered national insignia in four positions, as shown; the wing undersurface markings cannot be determined, and have been illustrated as plain red types. An 'F' motor-type logo is present on both sides of the engine cowling.



La-5FN "White 17"
pilot u/k
unit u/k
ca. summer 1944
Camouflage Colors: AMT-11/-12/-7

    This particular La-5FN has been the subject of innumerable profiles and other artwork over the years, and often has been held up as a 'typical' Soviet finish for the 1944 period. The best photos of this machine appeared traditionally in Profile Publications No.149, though other examples may be found in Air Enthusiast, many Salamander titles, and so on.
    "White 17" is certainly finished in the usual 1944 fighter colors of AMT-11/-12/-7, and the pattern has some semblance to an NKAP template job. However, it is by no means prototypical, and in fact is quite unique. The upper surface pattern is the closest to the usual application, but even so demonstrates some significant deviations from the normal practice. The port engine cowling pattern is inexplicable, and one wonders if some type of repainting is not evidenced here? As well, the starboard cowling seems to be typical on the lower section, and completely atypical on the upper part. The scheme present on the rudder seems incongruous with the rest of the aircraft.
    In general, one might suspect that this machine had been manufactured in 1943, and was refinished in the grey colors in 1944 in the field. Certainly, one does encounter a very large number of La-5s with this treatment. However, the fact that the cowl bands are nicely unpainted, and the presence of the Factory applied 'motor-type' logo, seem to argue against this. It is mysterious, and we will probably never know how it ended up looking this way.
    "White 17" wears white bordered national insignia in four positions, as shown; the wing undersurface markings cannot be determined, and have been illustrated as plain red types. A round 'FN' motor-type logo is present on both sides of the engine cowling.