P-40K (our E is used for K's) flown by Nikolai Kuznetsov of 436 IAP in the winter of 1942-43. At this time 436 IAP belonged to Northwest Front's 239 IAD of the 6th Air Army and patrolled the airspace between Staraya Russa and Velikiye Luki.
This aircraft was photographed after Kuznetsov returned after scoring his 15th individual victory. Unfortunately the nose is not seen in the pictures and it's color is a matter of speculation. Most representations show a white spinner, but I believe this to be false. I looked for clues by checking photos of other units in 239 IAD and it seemed that the common practice was to leave the prop spinners in their original camouflage paint - so I also have done this. I painted the 14 victory stars on the fuselage sides to reflect the plane as it was photographed.
Kuznetsov was shot down and wounded on January 6th 1943 and spent a few months recovering from his injuries. He returned to his unit in May and by this point it was redesignated 67 GIAP and reequipped with P-39's. Kuznetsov was awarded the Order of Lenin and Hero of the Soviet Union. He finished the war with 36 victories and retired from the Soviet Air Force with the rank of General Major in 1978
