So my grandfather told me that his father, a WW2 Soviet ace, who flew a P39 Aircobra, also had a Jeep that his ground crew and him used to get to and from airfields. The story goes that after the war was over, he and his men were told to drive said Jeep to Archangelsk, where it would be returned to America. When they got there, they were ordered out and their car was driven onto a boat with a car compacter and crushed, after being drained of fluids.
I know that his father kept his leather fighter jacket, and most gear from the plane (which supposedly came with a kit of American made flight attire and comms equipment) other than the comms gear, and that P39's and 63's continued to service on with the Soviet Airforce.
What determined what equipment was "returned" and what was kept from Lend-Lease? Was any of it supposed to be returned per contract?
When they got there, they were ordered out and their car was driven onto a boat with a car compacter and crushed, after being drained of fluids.
That's just a Soviet legend, there's no solid proofs on this.
What determined what equipment was "returned" and what was kept from Lend-Lease? Was any of it supposed to be returned per contract?
Actually US asked to pay only for "civilian" equipment (except ships and some additional equipment) which was left in USSR. But since Soviets kept stalling the talks and bargaining, US decided at least to return the ships.
Source: Edward R Stettinius: 'Lend-lease, Weapon for Victory'