Soviet Forces

Italian-built aircraft with the red stars

Mission4today

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