T.I. Karlov, Technical Specialist, Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment 30, ?1943.  A ready smile - perhaps his "boys" were enjoying good hunting at the time.  Best regards, JR.

Happy Comrade.

This is a Soviet Red Army NKL-26 "aerosan" - a sort of snowmobile, driven over the frozen wastes by means of a large powered propeller at the rear.  The vehicle was armed with one 7.62mm machine-gun and had a crew of two.  Russian "snowmobile" crews were organised in regiments, and often operated in conjunction with infantry ski regiments.  Each NKL-26 could carry four soldiers externally (standing on the skis/runners), or tow a load or section of troops.  Best regards, JR.

Soviet snowmobile.

(Repost?) Soviet infantry-boy killed sometime and somewhere in the East. A German photo.