Hatch tags were cut from three hatches located on a triangular fuselage access panel underside of Soviet Air Force MiG-23MLD Flogger-K, “White 38″, s/n: 0390312084, which was one of the 33 MiG-23MLDs of 120 IAP deployed to Bagram Airbase near Kabul during the Afghanistan War in 1988. It completed over 80 combat missions over Afghan soil before being severely damaged during its landing after a sortie in October 1989. Although it was sent to the Soviet Union for repairs, it never returned, as Soviet troops, including 120 IAP, fully withdrew from Afghanistan a few months later.
Hatch tags show a variety of differences, even within the same set. Each tag has some type of structure or, in some instances, fasteners on the back. Additionally, 8 tags in this series come with stencils. Tags like 412, 415, and 423 have yellow anodized sections along with their grey coloring. Tag number 414 has a “parasite,” which isa remnant of a fastener that the waterjet did not cut through!
Additional information:
Dimensions: approx. 88 mm x 37 mm (3.46″ x 1.45″)
There may be a slight difference between the color shades on your screen and those on the actual tags.
