The LA5FN marks the middle stage in the development of Lavochkin's propeller driven fighters, begun in 1940 by the Lagg 1 and culminating with the La 11 in 1947. The shortage of M105P liquid cooled in-line engines used in the Lagg 1 and Lagg 3 fighters, led to the experimental mounting of the Ash 82,14 cylinder two row radial engine to a modified Lagg 3 airframe. Results of flight testing were so promising it was decided to put the new aircraft into production as the Lag 5, so initiating development which culminated with the La-SFN.

The introduction of the efficient Ash-82FN direct fuel injection engine into the La-5 airframe resulted in the La-SFN, the final development in the La-5 series. The La-5FN typifies front-line fighter aircraft of its era, although the critical shortages of aluminium and aluminium alloys had dictated that Lavochkin used mainly wooden construction for the airframe.

Altogether some 10.599 La-5 aircraft, of all versions, were-produced in the period 1942-1944. The first La-5FN were issued in March 1943 only being superceded when the La-7 was introduced in April, 1944.

The first non Soviet unit to receive the Lavochkin fighter was the 1st at Czech fighter regiment and was incorporated in the 2nd Air Army under the command of experienced group of Czechoslovak pilots who had previously flown in the RAF. As serving members of the RAF it had taken the approval of the British Cabinet to transfer the men. Twenty pilots under the command of Captain Frantisek Fajtl set sail from Glasgow for the Soviet Union on February 21, 1944, aboard the ship Reina dei Pacific.

On the April 16, 1944 the Czech Pilots started training at Ivanovo airfield. Familiarisation on the La 5UTI began on May 3rd the pilots progressing to the La 5FN the following day! May 3rd had seen the unit officially integrated into the Soviet organization as the 128 Czechoslovak Squadron in the USSR.

By June 16, 1944, the unit was re-designated as the 1st Czechoslovak independent and was incorporated in the 2nd Air Army under the command of General Krasivskij.

On September 10, 1944 the unit was ready for action. The Slovak National Uprising started on September 29, 1944 and the regiment was sent to aid the uprising on the September 17, the first time the Czech pilots had landed in their homeland for five years. Operating from an airfield complex known as Tři Duby (Three Oaks) the unit was in action the very next day, taking the Germans completely by surprise.

The occupying forces had no idea that the air support was operating behind their lines. The initial ground attack raids on the German airfields caused great damage among parked Luftwaffe aircraft.

The winter and spring of 1944/45 saw Czechoslovak Lavochkin's operating in Poland and Northern Moravia, these units still operating at the termination of hostilities. After WWII, La 5FN's were issued to the newly reformed. Czechoslovak Airforce, and continued in service up to 1948.

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