Paratroopers - Soviet?

[Al-muell]

Looks like early soviet paratrooper, but it's not my speciality and no distinctive uniform details are visible, so two questions:
1.Is it a Soviet paratrooper?
2.If so, when was this photograph taken?

[deValcourt]

Yes, I'd say he's Soviet (based mostly on the star on the tail of the airplane).

But the airplane is the problem for dating this photo because these types of single wing planes were used by a number of countries to train paratroopers for decades, so it could be from any time between the 1930s to the 1950s or even later.

He could also be a DOSAAF member since as you pointed out there are no visible military symbols. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I'm leaning toward some sort of paratroopers club and this was a pre-jump "glam shot."

Phillip

[desantnik]

The red star was pretty ubiquitous - could be anywhere in the Soviet bloc - I'd say 1950's. Soviet, Czech, and Poles all had an inverted tear shape badge, looks to me like Czech.

[Al-muell]

Well, It's not Poland - because of the star and because he's not wearing a typical paratrooper uniform. Could be Czech, but I think their AF used 3-coloured circle, not red stars. Also the lndscape doesn't look typcally Czech (OK, maybe they don't have mountains everywhere, but still it's just too flat)

[kliment]

The aircraft in background seems to me a Yak-12. The models with lengthened curved tailfin (as on the picture) are produced since 1955 I think. I guess that the man in foreground is a dosaaf member in training.

[Al-muell]

That sounds good. So this cloth helmet was standard for DOSAAF parachute clubs?

[deValcourt]

He could also be a DOSAAF member since as you pointed out there are no visible military symbols. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I'm leaning toward some sort of paratroopers club and this was a pre-jump "glam shot."

Phillip

I guess that the man in foreground is a dosaaf member in training.

Ahem...:cool:

Phillip:)

[Al-muell]

Yes, You were the first to say it's DOSAAF (and I never had trouble beliving that), so the second DOSAAF opinion just strengthen that.
And also there's a time frame (not earlier then 1955).

[deValcourt]

Yes, You were the first to say it's DOSAAF (and I never had trouble beliving that), so the second DOSAAF opinion just strengthen that.
And also there's a time frame (not earlier then 1955).

I'm just messing with you.;) I think everybody knows I don't "toot my own horn."

Phillip

[kliment]

No problem Phillip, next time I said: I guess also that the man is a DOSAAF... :). But my English is so poor...
Concerning the DOSAAF membership, I have no definitive argument, but the insignia (a bit like the basic DOSAAF badge) on the cap, the quality of the same cap and the overall (not so military) apparence of the man. I have pictures of parachutist-firemen from the same period, the uniform seems the same as the military (leather caps), this one is more interesting.