Was looking at a reference page for the Yak-9 where
it mentioned a model Yak-9DD which had extra fuel
tanks installed for a range of up to just under 1400
miles. The stated purpose was for the escort of
American bombers attacking Romanian oil fields.

While the many raids against Ploesti are well known,
I've never heard of Soviet fighter escort for American
bombers during any of them, or other attacks elsewhere.

In fact, I don't think that many bomber raids against
Axis targets even originated from Soviet controlled
territory throughout the war, so it would seem a
special version of Yak-9 to do long range escort would
be unlikely.

What about long range Soviet attacks requiring the
services of an enhanced range fighter? Seems long
range bombing was pretty much a British/US activity.


SMH