story of the week

WW2 Russian Pilot found preserved in his crashed plane The body of Russian Pilot Sergeant Lazarev was recently found preserved in a bog, still in his crashed Hurricane fighter. February, 21st, 1943 From the Soviet military air base in Chupa two P-40 fighters and five Hurricanes took flight in an operation with one of the Hurricanes piloted by Sergeant Lazarev At the same time German pilot Oberfeldwebel Rudolf Muller from 6/JG5 ' Expertenstaffel with his squad of the four of fighters Bf109G were escorting five Ju87D bombers, and entered to the fight with the Soviet fighters. After the Hurricane was hit, Sergeant Lasarev unfastened his belts and tried to leave the machine however the low height has not allowed him to make it and the Hurricane crashed into a bog. The pilot was killed on impact and his feet were broken by instrument panel. When he died he was only 22 years old. His preserved body was recently recovered from the bog still inside his Hurricane and buried at the Chupa, Karelian Republic cemetery .