IMO it was the Yak3 and the La7 of mid 44 that brought about a form of air superiority over Eastern front skies that was more then just based upon numbers airborne.
For the first time the VVS had ac that could combat air to air even when out numbered against the LW iron of the day.
The La5FN just about matched some of its LW contempories and the prior versions of Yak1,7,9 did not match them. The Yak 9U was introduces 6 months later than the Yak3 with the very unreliable VK107 motor.
At Stalingrad and Kursk the VVS only had air superiority when the LW failed to show up or when they had massive numbers advantage in the skies. Whilst the VVS still had the same numbers advantage in Mid 44 the LW was never able to generate even local air superiority where it wished due to the VVS having superior aircraft and equally if not better trained pilots to put against them. (some generalisation but the "sense" is true)
The Mig3 was very pretty. It was light on armament, by far the worst performing ac in the VVS fleet at its time (yak1 and even Lagg3 outperformed it). Its only saving grace was that (comparatively) it performed better at altitude. A trait totally useless to the VVS until the LW attempted saturation bombing of Moscow in late 41. It was in the "Battle for Moscow" where the Mig3 was used as a bomber interceptor agin HE111's etc that the Mig3 had its moment in history. By the following spiring it was being replaced in front line units where ever possible and production was phased back to be finished completely by late summer 42.
