FREDDYB

Welcome to the 'Yakovlev' page of Frederick 'FreddyB' Botto. To download any of FreddyB's creations, just click on the relevant picture or link. 14/February/2004. To see the latest additions to this page, look for the icon.

	This model depicts the Yak 3 of the CG III, Normandie-Niemen, flown by Roger Sauvage. Roger Sauvage was born in 1917, the son of a native of Martinique killed during WWI. He joined tha Armée de l'Air in 1935. When war broke out, he was flying Potez 631. He survived once to friendly fire when a group of RAF Hurricanes attacked him (mistaking his aircraft for a Bf-110), and he had to bail out, touching the ground barely councious. Roger Sauvage shot down a He-111 on 18 May 1940. After the armistice, he left for North Africa. He arrived in Russia, as part of the second contingent of volunteers for Normandie-Niemen in January 1944. During the last year of the war, in the skies of East Prussia, Poland, and Germany, Sauvage added many more victories and when the fights ended, his total stood at 16 confirmed, 1 probable and 4 damaged. GCIII Normandie (Groupe de Chasse) No.III was made of Free French Pilots, who all volunteered to fight alongside the Red Army from 1943 to 1945. It was the first French fighter unit and had a total 273 air kills in 5240 missions and 869 fights. This model was created by FreddyB. The readme file credits those involved in the creation of this aircraft. (SPIT 14 Slot)
	This model depicts a Yak 7 of the 29th GvIAP during the Winter of 1942-43. This skin was created by FreddyB, based on the models of Captain Kurt - TailSpin and the original skin by FlyingSheep. The wing views were by Claudio. (SPIT 9 Slot)
	This model depicts the Yak-1b - GC III "Normandie" March 1943 of Cdt Jean Tulasnes. Jean Tulasnes was in command of GC I/7 when WWII began. His unit was sent to Rayak in Lebanon. After the armistice, it became too obvious that Tulasnes had no sympathy fot the Vichy government. During a patrol flight in october 1940, he pretended his Morane-Saulnier 406 had technical problems, and then dived and disappeared in the clouds... Tulasnes was then a Free French pilot, in Cairo, joining the RAF as a Flight Lieutnant. His 274 squadron, flying Hurricanes Mk.I was sent to Tobruk area. De Gaulle gave him the rank of Commandant, and Tulasnes took command of all the Free French Air Forces in the Middle East. CG I "Alsace" was soon after created, based in Rayak, and using the MS406 of his former unit. CG III "Normandie" was created in september 1943 and Tulasnes took command of this unit, which was to be sent to the russian front. There, Tulasne was given the choice of the fighter, he choose the Yak-1. In March 1943, Normandie, based in the central part of the front, flew its first war mission. Jean Tulasnes was known for his courage and for his extraordinary pilot skils. He disappeared the 17th of July 1943. GCIII Normandie (Groupe de Chasse) No.III was made of Free French Pilots, who all volunteered to fight alongside the Red Army from 1943 to 1945. It was the first French fighter unit and had a total 273 air kills in 5240 missions and 869 fights. This model was created by FreddyB. The readme file credits those involved in the creation of this aircraft. (P-51B Slot)
	This model depicts the Yak-9, GCIII 'Normandie-Niemen', of Jacques Andre, who was credited with 16 air kills. Jacques André joined the Armée de l'Air in April 1939. In october 1940, he was assigned to the Groupe de Chasse II/3, flying the Dewoitine 520. After the French surrender, his unit was based in North Africa (Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco). In 1943, he volunteered to join "Normandie" and reached the Russian Front at the end of the year. There, he flew the Yak9 and Yak3 and shot down 16 enemy aircraft (+ 4 probables), becoming one of the best pilots of the unit. He was made "Hero of the Soviet Union" with Gold Star and survived the war. GCIII Normandie (Groupe de Chasse) No.III was made of Free French Pilots, who all volunteered to fight alongside the Red Army from 1943 to 1945. It was the first French fighter unit and had a total 273 air kills in 5240 missions and 869 fights. This model was created by FreddyB. The readme file credits those involved in the creation of this aircraft. (SPIT 9 Slot)
	This model depicts the Yak-9t, GCIII 'Normandie-Niemen', of Rene Challe, who was credited with 8 air kills. René Challe had his first air kill in May 1940 with the GC III/7 but was severely injured in the same mission. He joined Normandie in February 1944 with his brother Maurice, and took command of the the 4th Flight of Normandie. René Challe was credited with 8 confirmed air kills (+ 1 probable) before receiving his second severe injury in January 1945. GCIII Normandie (Groupe de Chasse) No.III was made of Free French Pilots, who all volunteered to fight alongside the Red Army from 1943 to 1945. It was the first French fighter unit and had a total 273 air kills in 5240 missions and 869 fights. This model was created by FreddyB. The readme file credits those involved in the creation of this aircraft. (SPIT 9 Slot)
	This model depicts the Yak-1b - Normandie-Niemen, 1943, flown by Didier Béguin. Didier Béguin served in an observation group (GAO 507) until the French surrender. He reached England in June 1940, where he was assigned to No.245, No.213 and No.253 Squadrons (Hurricane only). He fought during the Battle of Britain, and from June 1940 to August 1942 flew 207 missions (65 night mission) with the RAF. Didier Béguin was one of first 14 pilots to join the GC III Normandie. He scored his 8 air kills with Normandie-Nienmen. In March 1944, he was back in England, assigned No.130 Squadron (Spitfire), then to the GC III/2 "Alsace" (No.341 Sqn) as leader of the "Strasbourg" Flight. In november 1944, his plane was hit by the Flak and crashed near Apeldoorn (Holland), kiling the pilot. GCIII Normandie (Groupe de Chasse) No.III was made of Free French Pilots, who all volunteered to fight alongside the Red Army from 1943 to 1945. It was the first French fighter unit and had a total 273 air kills in 5240 missions and 869 fights. This model was created by FreddyB. The readme file credits those involved in the creation of this aircraft. (P-51B Slot)
	This model depicts the Yak-1b 'Normandie-Niemen', 1943 of Marcel Albert. Marcel Albert was already credited with 2 air kills with the GC I/3, 2ème escadrille when he escaped in 1941 with Albert Durand and Marcel Lefèvre, each one stealing a Dewoitine D 520. They reached Gibraltar and joined the F.A.F.L. In England, he flew more than 50 missions in the RAF before being one of the 14 first pilots joining 'Normandie'. He finished the war with 23 confirmed air kills, (1st ace of Normandie-Niemen and 2nd French ace for WWII) and was made 'Hero of the Soviet Union'. This model was created by FreddyB. The readme file credits those involved in the creation of this aircraft.  Patrick Grand-Chavin's updates to the cockpit bars, antenna and non-mirrored markings. (P-51B Slot)
	This model depicts a Yak-1b of CG III, Normandie-Niemen, flown by Cne Albert Littolff, 14 confirmed airborne kills. Albert Littolff was one of the first pilots to join the Normandie Squadron. He had previously had 6 kills with the GC III/7 (flying Morane MS406), and 4 other kills with No.73 and No.274 RAF Squadrons (flying the Hurricane) over Tobruck. He added 4 more air kills with the Yak 1 before being shot down. He died on the 16th July 1943. GC III Normandie was made up of Free French pilots, who all volunteered to fight alongside the Red Army from 1943 to 1945. It was the first French fighter unit with 273 air kills in 5,240 missions and 869 fights. This model was created by FreddyB from a skin from the flight sim Il-2. The readme file credits those involved in the creation of this aircraft. (P-51B Slot)
	This model depicts a Yak-9T of CG III, Normandie-Niemen, flown by Marcel Lefevre, 11 confirmed airborne kills. Marcel Lefevre was one of the first pilots to join the Normandie Squadron. He had 2 air kills with the Yak 1, and 9 more kills with his Yak 9. Lefevre was from Normandy, and had the "Père Magloire" painted on the fuselage of his Yak. He died from severe injuries the 5th June 1944, the day before the allied landing in Normandy. He was made "Hero of the Soviet Union". GC III Normandie was made up of Free French pilots, who all volunteered to fight alongside the Red Army from 1943 to 1945. It was the first French fighter unit with 273 air kills in 5,240 missions and 869 fights. This model was created by FreddyB. The readme file credits those involved in the creation of this aircraft.  Patrick Grand-Chavin's updates to the cockpit bars, antenna and non-mirrored markings. (SPIT 9 Slot)
	This model depicts a Yak-3 of CG III, Normandie-Niemen, flown by Robert Marchi, with 13 confirmed airborne kills. This particular aircraft has a two-tone grey camouflage scheme. Robert Marchi served in Normandie-Niémen from January 1944 until the end of the war. GC III Normandie was made up of Free French pilots, who all volunteered to fight alongside the Red Army from 1943 to 1945. It was the first French fighter unit with 273 air kills in 5,240 missions and 869 fights. This model was created by FreddyB. The readme file credits those involved in the creation of this aircraft. (SPIT 14 Slot)
	This model depicts a Yak-9T "White 91" of 113 GIAP, flown by Viktor Orlov during the fall of 1943. Hero of the Soviet Union, Kpt. Viktor Orlov spent most of his flying career in the famous 42 IAP of Maj. Shinkarenko, flying various Yak-9Ts. In September 1943 he was awarded the Gold Star HSU with 18+4 confirmed victories and was re-assigned to the 113 GIAP. A Guards emblem was located on both sides of the engine cowling. Orlov was killed on the 9th of December 1943, shortly after receiving this machine. He was trying to rescue a group of Pe-2 bombers cornered by more than fifty German fighters in the Kiev area. Orlov destroyed two Messerschmitts before his machine was fatally stricken. He was shot in his parachute by a German pilot and killed. This model was created by FreddyB. The readme file credits those involved in the creation of this aircraft. A special thanks to SteveT, 'spinner'. (SPIT 9 Slot)