During the final two years of the Second World War, the Yak-3 proved itself a powerful dogfighter. Tough and agile below an altitude of 13,000 feet, the Yak-3 dominated the skies over the battlefields of the Eastern Front during the closing years of the war.

The first attempt to build a fighter called the Yak-3 was shelved in 1941 due to a lack of building materials and an unreliable engine. The second attempt used the Yak-1M, already in production, to maintain the high number of planes being built. The Yak-3 had a new, smaller wing and smaller dimensions than its predecessor and its light weight gave the Yak-3 more agility. The Yak-3 completed its trials in October 1943 and began equipping the 91st IAP in July of 1944. In August, small numbers of Yak-3s were built with an improved engine generating 1,700-hp, and the aircraft saw limited combat action in 1945. Production continued until 1946, by which time 4,848 examples had been built.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a Soviet Yakovlev Yak-3 fighter that was piloted by Georgiy Zakharov. Now in stock!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 5-inches
Length: 4-3/4-inches

Release Date: October 2020

Historical Account: "Yak Attack" - In 1939, Georgiy Zakharov graduated from a course in the General Staff Academy and was promoted to Colonel. He was posted as the commander of the Siberian Military District's air component. On May 7th, 1940, he was granted the rank of Major General. On November, he left Siberia to command the 43rd Interceptor Division, that was stationed in Minsk, at the Western Special Military District.

On June 18th, 1941, Zakharov flew a Polikarpov Po-2 in a special reconnaissance mission over the German lines in the other side of the border. He spotted what he referred to as "an unprecedented German build-up." In an interview, former GRU Colonel Vladimir Kvachkov claimed that Zakharov's report reached the Kremlin and prompted Joseph Stalin to order a full alert on the front, but Marshal Dmitry Pavlov failed to carry out the directive.

On June 22nd, when Operation Barbarossa was commenced, Zakharov - flying a Polikarpov I-16 - shot down two Ju 88 over Minsk. In November, he was relieved from his position in the 43rd Brigade and sent to the rear, to head the Trans-Baikal Military Flight School in Ulan-Ude, at Central Asia.

In December 1942, he returned to front duty, and was given command of the 303th Interceptor Division, which was forming in the Kubinka. He served in that capacity until the end of the war. In April 1943, the 303rd Division was reinforced by the Free French Normandie-Niemen Squadron.

Zakharov's unit participated in the Battle of Kursk and provided air support for the 3rd Belorussian Front during the Battle of Smolensk and the campaign in Belarus. They later took part in the fighting in Eastern Prussia