I-16 and UTI-4 in Luftwaffe training regiments

[i16stealth]

Can you name, how many Polikarpov fighters and trainers were in Luftwaffe schools in 1939-45? I've heard about some of them, but do not have the exact info.

[montanamotor]

Hi, I16stealth,

I shall try and see, what I can find out. But according to my instantly availlable sources, some of the I-16 that were caught by Germans during "Unternehmen Barbarossa" were handed over to the SPANISH AIRFORCE. After the Civil War, Franco's army had caught several I-16 from the surrendering Republican Forces. Due to lack of other contemporary fighter planes availlable, they were taken into service by Franco's forces. To supply Franco's airforce with replacements and spareparts direly needed soon after, from mid-'41, caught I-16 were delivered by the Germans to Spain for replacement and cannibalization.

Don't know any details, yet. But I have seen several pictures showing spanish I-16 with the notorious "X" at the vertical rudder for identification as Franco's planes.

During WWII, very few caught enemy planes were ever really taken into German service. The Dewoitine D520 was among the few exeptions; the Dewoitine went to german training squadrons. Almost all other brands and makes were either sold to Germany's second-line allies like, Spain, Bulgaria, Romania and Finland, or they were scrapped.

Cheers,

Montanamotor

[i16stealth]

Montanamotor wrote:
quote: But I have seen several pictures showing spanish I-16 with the notorious "X" at the vertical rudder for identification as Franco's planes.

Actually, there are lots of such pictures. But I've never thought that the Germans transmit captured Ratas to Spain. Thanks for this info. I hope you will find out more;)