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Statistical question regarding Russian recoveries?

Posted by Cees Broere on Fri Nov 08, 2002 07:20:56 AM

Hi all,

Ever since the Iron Curtain went up and the recovery teams started scouring the tundras for aircraft wrecks I was wondering why several types have been found in greater numbers than others.

For instance there were many P-40's, Hurricanes and Airacobra's shipped to the Soviet Union. The majority of the wrecks recovered from Russian understandably are of these three types. Apart from that there have been many Messerschmitt 109's found., because this was the predominantly used type by the Luftwaffe.

I can imagine that these four types would be the most commonly found nowadays in the vast areas of Russia. But there were also many Spitfires sent but so far only (not even) a handful have been recovered also the number of Ju-88's, Heinkel III's, Messerschmitt 110's, Douglas Bostons, Thunderbolts are very small or none recovered at all (where are those more than 500 P-47's).

On the other hand, types of which only a limited number were used such as the Hampdens or Fw-189 there have been one or more examples found.

So are the recovery teams looking for specific airframes or it this purely because those often used types were used in a certain area of northern Russia only and the Spitfires for instance elsewhere.

And what can we expect for the future (Lancasters, Pe-8 etc)?

Cees

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