This is a detail of an image taken on Vnukovo airport, near Moscow, on March 7, 1942, when 120 IAP of the Moscow Air Defence (PVO) was made a Guards unit as 12 GvIAP. Black 12 is the example visible on the background of the more famous red 02. It could have been the aircraft of the ace Sergey Rubtzov.

Its characteristics look to be:

• It's a late type example, with slats;
• starter tooth on the spinner;
• silver painted nose, propeller, frames and (possibly) undersurfaces; it could have been painted silver overall, with a thin layer of gloss white on fuselage and wings uppersurfaces;
• red stars outlined in black; note the imperfect symmetry and alignment of stars;
• there is the usual small reduction gear rate painted on the engine cowling;
• the radio mast is slightly bent rearwards;
• the tail wheel is fixed, with tissue cover;
• it was armed with RS-82 rocket launchers.