Disappearing tech team.

[Pharnakes]

The tech team "J.I.Alksnis" for the soviets disappears on completing the tech "bomber vet. initiative" No message is generated in the ticker, just J.I.Alksnis has developed bomber veteran initiative. When I go to research a new tech his slot is empty and he is not available from the list of teams.

Edit: A little googling sugests he was a victim of the purges, however maybe it could be made more clear in game that this is what has happened? Also maybe related, I was reloading older saves to see ifit would repeat and sometimes the great purge event that kills 1/2 your leaders would fire and sometimes (3/4 tries) it wouldn't.

 

[SpaceViking]

This happens with a few tech teams for several different countries. I think they stick around until the end of whatever they are researching at least.

 

[MartinBG]

I think they stick around until the end of whatever they are researching at least.

Correct.
Teams use End Year and if it is equal and lesser then the current one, the team won't be available anymore (sleeping teams just change End Year setting for the team).
For game play reasons teams already assigned to a research task remain active until the task is completed.