ALSIB (or theNorthern Trace) was theSoviet Union portion of theAlaska-Siberian air road receivingLend-Lease aircraft from theNorthwest Staging Route. Aircraft manufactured in theUnited States were flown over this route forWorld War II combat service on theEastern Front.[1]

United States ferry pilots delivered aircraft toLadd Army Airfield inFairbanks, Alaska. There each aircraft was serviced byUSAAF personnel in preparation for Soviet inspection. After Soviet inspectors accepted the aircraft, five regiments of ferry pilots conveyed aircraft from Fairbanks to Soviet pilot training facilities nearKrasnoyarsk. Each regiment was assigned to a specific segment of the route to become familiar with navigation and weather within that segment. Single-seatBell P-39 Airacobra andBell P-63 Kingcobra fighters flew in groups with a pair of multi-engineNorth American B-25 Mitchell orDouglas A-20 Havoc bombers. The lead bomber navigated for the flight and the trailing bomber watched for stragglers. Bombers andDouglas C-47 Skytrains might fly independently, and C-47s transported ferry pilots east for new aircraft.[1]
Soviet First regiment pilots accepted the planes at Fairbanks and flew over the Bering Strait viaSt. Lawrence Island.
Second regiment pilots flew from Uelkal toSeymchan.
Third regiment pilots flew from Seymchan toYakutsk.[1]
Fourth regiment pilots flew from Yakutsk toKirensk.[1]
Fifth regiment pilots flew from Kirensk to Krasnoyarsk.[1]