Soviet motorcycle courier gives the orders for armored vehicle commander during Winter war 1939-1940

Soviet motorcycle courier 1939-1940

A pilot and other Soviet forces servicemen standing in front a Savoia-Marchetti S.79: at that time an unusual view for an Italian-built aircraft. The aircraft is in effect a Savoia-Marchetti S.79K bomber of the Kingdom of Yugoslav Army Air Force escaped in Soviet Union after the Yugoslav’s surrender to Axis forces and, in May 1941, transferred to Soviet Air Force. It was later used in 69th IAP as transport during the Battle of Odessa in Autumn 1941 but his life with the red stars was extremely brief: in October 1941 the plane crashed due to engines failure during the evacuation from Crimea. Victor Sierra

Italian-built aircraft with the red stars

Although it was an elite formation, the division was destroyed during the Winter War, after being ordered to help 163rd infantry division to break a Finnish siege on Raate road. Of the 44th Division's 17,000 troops, 1000 were captured and 700 escaped. The rest died.