P-39Q of 129 GIAP in the spring of 1945. Pilot unknown. The black painted gun access hatch with the side number in a circle indicates this was a 3rd squadron machine. The port side hatch has the Red Air Force emblem also painted on it. An ace of hearts card is painted on the starboard side. Sic victory stars are painted on the doors. A diagonal stripe is across the tail, the color of which seems to match the red of the side number and ace card in the reference photos.
129 GIAP was in combat from the very beginning of the war in central Russia, initially equipped with I-16's, LaGG-3's and MiG-3's. It was later using La-5's and Yak-1's. It was withdrawn in the summer of 1943 to train on the P-39. The unit was back in action in October and participated in the battles to liberate northern Ukraine and Poland before finally attacking Czechoslovakia and Germany proper in 1945. Pilots of 129 GIAP collectively achieved 546 air victories.
