Lt. Thompson Highfill of the 99th Bombardment Group with Soviet Pilots, Poltava, Summer 1944

September 30, 2025 - Reading time: 4 minutes

Lt. Thompson Highfill of the 99th US Bombardment Group poses with Soviet pilots next to a P-39 Airacobra at Poltava airfield, summer 1944.

This World War II photograph shows Lt. Thompson Highfill of the 99th Bombardment Group, USAAF, posing with Soviet pilots beside a Bell P-39 Airacobra at one of the Poltava airfields in Ukraine during the summer of 1944. The P-39 was one of the primary aircraft supplied to the Soviet Union under the Lend-Lease program, providing critical support to Red Army operations on the Eastern Front.

The P-39 Airacobra in Soviet Service

Although the P-39 was considered underpowered at high altitudes by Western standards, it proved highly effective in the low-to-medium altitude environment of the Eastern Front. Equipped with a 37 mm nose cannon and multiple machine guns, it excelled in ground-attack missions, reconnaissance, and aerial combat at altitudes below 5,000 meters. Soviet pilots widely valued the aircraft for its maneuverability and firepower.

Lend-Lease Cooperation

The presence of American personnel like Lt. Highfill at Soviet airbases underscores the cooperative nature of the Lend-Lease program, which allowed the Allies to supply planes, tanks, trucks, and other equipment to the USSR. Poltava served as a critical hub for receiving, rearming, and distributing Lend-Lease aircraft to frontline Soviet units.

Symbol of Allied Unity

This image reflects the personal and operational connections forged between Soviet and American airmen during the war. Beyond strategy and logistics, it captures the shared commitment to defeating Nazi Germany and the practical exchange of knowledge, experience, and equipment that enhanced the effectiveness of the Eastern Front air campaigns.

Technical photo data:
📍 Location: Poltava, Ukraine, USSR
📅 Date: Summer 1944
📝 Event: Lend-Lease P-39 Airacobra, USAAF cooperation with Soviet pilots
📷 Author: US Air Force Museum (source: USAF Museum)