Soviet and American Pilots Together in Alaska During Lend-Lease, 1943

September 7, 2025 - Reading time: 4 minutes

Soviet A-20 Boston crew with American pilots in Alaska during Lend-Lease aircraft transfers, 1943.

Soviet A-20 Boston bomber crew posing with American pilots in snowy Alaska during Lend-Lease aircraft transfers, 1943.

This historic wartime photograph captures a symbolic moment of Allied cooperation during World War II. Soviet airmen, the crew of a Douglas A-20 Boston bomber received under Lend-Lease, pose together with American pilots on the snowy fields of Alaska in 1943.

The image reflects the unique partnership between the United States and the Soviet Union, forged out of necessity in the struggle against Nazi Germany. The Lend-Lease program provided the USSR with vital military equipment, including more than 3,000 Douglas A-20 Boston light bombers, which played an important role in ground-attack and tactical bombing missions on the Eastern Front.

Alaska served as a key hub of the ALSIB (Alaska–Siberia) ferrying route. Here, American crews delivered aircraft to Soviet pilots, who then flew them across the Bering Strait and Siberia to the Soviet Union. The harsh climate, limited infrastructure, and the immense distances made this one of the most difficult and dangerous ferrying operations of the war.

This photograph stands as a reminder of the wartime alliance and the shared sacrifices of Soviet and American aviators who worked side by side despite cultural and political differences. Their cooperation ensured the steady flow of aircraft that significantly strengthened the Red Army Air Force in its fight against the Wehrmacht.

Technical photo data:
📝 Source of information: U.S. Air Force Museum archives
📍 Location: Alaska, USA
📅 Date: 1943
📷 Author: Unknown (US Army Air Forces archive)