Not much is known about White 27's early history. It is believed to have been built during the spring or summer of 1944. Kozhedub received it in 1945, and scored 17 air victories while flying it, including one against a Messerschmitt Me 262 . He continued to use the La-7 until the August of that year, when he flew it to Moscow to receive medals for his wartime service. In 1947 it was given to the Zhukovskiy Institute for informal display.