JimZ

Well, last years questions were much harder that I thought I'd start with something a wee bit easier! I am still not sure if photographs were permitted or not. I took them nevertheless. Of course a small fone with a good resolution camera facilitates matters. And museum guards too busy speaking to eachother about their last trip to the grocer also helps!! Of course if my fone did not make the clicking camera sound every time I captured an image I would have been a little bit more comfy with it all! A point to be raised is that the wreck consists of nothing more than aluminium panels. All instruments and engine parts have been removed (at least from what I have seen in various images) and are probably still kept in some classified (?) location. Jim

And now Marc, the ball is in your court! Well done again. Jim

And those lights again! Merry Christmas Gary!

Well done Marc. More precisely the missle used was known in Russia as the S-75 Dvina. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-75_Dvina I believe SAM 2 to have been the NATO nomenclature for this missile. For More info: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Powers" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Powers</a> Interestingly, your pics seems to be some other part of the wreck. Perhaps as Ed suggests, the wreck was torn up and displayed in several locations for propoganda purposes. My pics of the wreck as currently displayed in the CAF Museum in Moscow: PS: please note the XMAS fairy lights!!!

After a few weeks pause, we're all ready to get going. QUESTION 172 (01/2008 Quiz) An american plane resides in Russia. A close up of part of this aircraft is attached below: Specifically: a) What is the aircraft and under which circumstances did it make Russia its new home? b) Name any Russian hardware that may have been used to facilitate this operation. c) What was the pilot's fate? d) Where in Russia can this aircraft still be found? Bonus question: e) Can anyone post any other photos of this aircraft in its home in Russia. Its not a hard one.... so good luck! I'll confirm the winner when the right answer to questions "a-d" are given. Question "e" is not necessary but is just there as an additional bonus. Jim

Hi guys. I am back. I'll post the first question to get us going latest by tomorrow. I have had a gruelling journey since 01:00hrs today and its now 17:10 and I am knackered. The ball will roll tomorrow. Best regards Jim

Looks like our first screwback. Thanks Marc. Jim

Badges indeed. Some of virtually thousands similar badges...no.. I must be underestimating that number!!!! Whereas I am not really interested in these badges, I never tire of seeing new ones. You can probably go through a life time without having seen all the various badges! Regards, Jim

Ok by me. I'll be in Russia till the 10th January so assuming that I manage to get away from my obligations there, and indulge in the hobby, I'll try to come back with a question or two that are hopefully based on something new that I may learnt. All the best and Christophe.... who would have ever thought how this thread would have taken off and is indeed, now orbiting. Well done, not only for its success but also for the fact that it makes us research and learn things that would have otherwise remained unknown to us. Jim

Sure Nick! Every bit helps. For now I am leaving this threads as is with their scans and posts. I hope that given few more contributions we can at least try to compile them in a schedule that can help members date their orders from the serial number! But its still early days! Jim

Thanks for your congratulations. That kill board is indeed almost one of a kind! ---- Christophe, I am away in Russia as of the 27th till the 10th January. I can offer you the following options: a) give you guys a break till the 10th when I will be honoured to post the first question on the new Soviet Quiz threadfor 2008; b) put forward another question which I hope wil be answered by the 26th (and if not I will pass on the solution to another member); or c) pass on the question to someone else. Its entirely up to you which alernative to go for and although I would go for A) giving everyone time to concentrate on family matters, Christmas and holidays, as well as taking time to relax before coming back to the quiz. Let me know what you prefer. Jim

Part of the aircraft denoting kills. Col. Alexander 'Sasha' Pokryshkin WW2 Soviet Ace with 59 kills to his name Aleksandr Pokryshkin was, in addition to his three Hero of the Soviet Union golden stars, awarded four Orders of Lenin, Order of the October Revolution, four Orders of the Red Banner, two Orders of Suvorov (2nd class), two Orders of the Red Star, a number of other medals, and foreign orders, such as the USAAF (US Army) Distinguished Service Medal. Links to full write up and images: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleksandr_Ivanovich_Pokryshkin http://www.elknet.pl/acestory/pokri/pokri.htm Jim

I lived in Italy for two years and I never came close enough to catch so much as a whiff of any soviet stuff..... Wonder if they may actually be a group. Researching them could help prove this either way. Well done indeed. Jim

I was also thinking chemical weapons as there were some plant around where N-Stoff (chlorine tri-fluoride), and Sarin were formarly produced by Nazi Germany (Falkenhagen on the Polish Border is one such site). Infact I also thought that the zinc could have been used to line containers of N-Stoff (or other chemicals)which apparantly could be stored at the borders and used as a first line of defence against the West. - What a first line of defence if that was the case - No 'pleasanties' of exchanging lead... Just death. Jim

I have only glanced through these medals and not studied them.... but at first glance I do not like the Odessa medal as it seems to remind me of some fakes I had come across. Perhaps as Lentiay says, better scans with more detail and less reflection may help. Jim

Anyone any idea? I've hit a zinc lined brick wall here and nobody else seems to be trying.....

A thread that I had originally missed. What powerful images! Thanks for sharing everyone. Jim

Zinc for lining a tunnel/bunker? Right track?

And there goes confirmation of my initial thoughts that one makes coffins, or rather lines them with Zinc! I however thought it was too outrageous and irrelvant. I was wrong! But plumbers and coffins??? Jim

So lets see.... The F 96 changed apparantly underwent a change in its route as part of it passed through the Soviet controlled area. However, this seems to have happenned in the Southern part of Berlin and I am not sure this is indeed the Brandenburg area. Otherwise I would have suspected that there was a discontinued tunnel that could have been used as an escape route that could have then been blocked up and bugged .... but why by plumbers and not Stasi or Soviet troops. Brandenburg area is the kink in my red line and the the B96 Tunnel is within the black box. I have never been there so my concept of the distance is not the best. Neither do I have literature sufficient enough to back up my thoughts. But as Berlin was indeed one city, the odds are that it had one sewage system and that entrance into such system and a bit of elbow grease (not to mention $hit!!) could lead to tunnelling into the B 96 tunnel. That is of course if that part of the road esixted at the time. Alternatively rather than try to escape, any such tunnel system leading from East to West could be dug up for the purposes of Bugging. But Why?? These seems to be nothing much in that area! Finally, discovery of a common sewage system could have led to worry that such system could be used as an escape system. Hence the plumbers may have been brought in to block up and deviate sewage (or water drainage) systems that could have been used as a means for defecting from East to West. Dire speculation of course.... but the proximity of the tunnel to the Brandenburg area and the thoughts of a common sewage system that could easily beat the wall could have indeed been a concern to the GSFG. And then... why else could you need a plumber?? I hate to think of alternatives!!! Hope you at least find these potshots amusing! Jim :cheer:

Not as easy as I made this one out to be! I looked at the map and I got some really crazy ideas. But definitely so speculative and highly imaginative that I to even suggest them. If no hints are forthcoming and nobody attempts or succeeds in replying I may dare make public these figments of my imagination. Jim

Check thread: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=1721...mp;#entry195133 as there may be some interesting links. However these might throw light on medals rather than badges. Jim

Well Done Frank!! Next one is on you! Lady boss is never a good sign Jim

Very nice Jan. Thanks for sharing these very personal items with us. Jim

I guess birthday wishes are due. I love to see the flak badge as it is one of the missing items from a collection of personal items that was given to me by a former Flak OFW. This one is in great shape albeit the damage which makes it all the more special. Congrats Jim