Air War #1: Soviet

Tupolev SB-2.

Tupolev SB-2.

Tupolev SB-2 is bombed up prior to a night raid.

Tupolev Tu-2.

Yakovlev Yak-1 (Ya-26, I-26).

Yakovlev Yak-1.

Yak-2 with KABB device.

Yakovlev Yak-3.

Yakovlev Yak-4, early in Barbarossa campaign.

Yakovlev Yak-7B.

PBN-1 Nomad “White 8” of the Russian Navy 1945.

PBN-1 Nomad of the Soviet Navy 1945.

PBN-1 Nomad “29” of the Russian Navy August 1945.

Soviet GST Black Sea VVS.

Soviet PBN-1 KM-2 cargo conversion 1948.

The second prototype I-153 with the production number 6005.

Prototype I-153, 1938.

Prototype I-153, 1938.

Prototype I-153, 1938.

Another view of the second prototype I-153.

Pre-production I-153 with M-25V engine.

Production I-153 with M-62 engine.

Another view of production I-153 with M-62 engine.

Production I-153 with M-62 engine.

Production I-153 with M-62 engine.

Production I-153 with M-62 engine.

Production I-153 with M-62 engine.

Production I-153 with M-62 engine.

Production I-153 with M-62 engine, summer 1941.

Damaged production I-153 with M-62 engine being inspected by German soldiers.

Production I-153 with M-62 engine.

I-153.

Production I-153 with M-62 engine.

Production I-153 with M-62 engine.

Production I-153 with M-62 engine.

Production I-153 with M-62 engine, captured by the Finns on 25 June 1941 at Kerimäki, which became VH-19 in Finnish service.

Another view of the I-53 captured by the Finns at Kerimäki.

Destroyed production I-153 with M-62 engine.

I-153 with M-63 engine, 1940.

I-153, 71st IAP, August 1942. Plane 50 was flown by Capt. A. G. Baturin, that was later awarded with the Golden Star, having a score of nine victories. The plane has four rocket rails plus one bomb rack under each wing; plane 29 has three rockets only and one bomb rail.

I-153s, 71st IAP-KBF, Lavansaari Island, Gulf of Finland, August 1942. Plane 102 is powered by an M-63 engine and piloted by Major Biskup, while plane 24 is powered by an M-62 engine and piloted by squadron leader Captain K.V. Solovyak.

Another view of I-153, 102, with M-63 engine.

I-153 with M-62 engine, 71st IAP.

I-153 with M-62 engine.

I-153, ‘93,’ 71st IAP VVS KBF, August 1942.

Another view of I-153, ‘93,’ 71st IAP VVS KBF, August 1942.

Another view of I-153, ‘93,’ 71st IAP VVS KBF, August 1942.

I-153, 71st IAP, Baltic Fleet.

I-153.

I-153, 2 December 1941.

I-153 undercarriage.

I-153 on skis. The metal and fabric surfaces are easily discernible.

I-153 on skis with M-63 engine.

I-153 on skis with M-63 engine.

Detail of I-153 with retractable ski gear.

I-153.

I-153 with M-63 engine in unusual camouflage scheme, 7th IAP, Leningrad, 1941.

I-153 with M-63 engine.

I-153 with M-63 engine.

I-153 with M-63 engine.

I-153s with M-63 engine being utilized in the ground attack role.

I-153 with M-63 engine.

I-153 with M-63 engine being loaded by a ground crewman with a 25kg AO-25 bomb. The bomb on the ground is a 50kg FAB-50SV introduced in 1937.

I-153 with M-63 engine.

Captured I-153 with M-63 engine.

I-153 with M-63 engine, 72nd IAP VVS SF, Vaenga-1 airbase, summer 1941.

Wrecked I-153 with M-63 engine being examined by German soldiers. The soldier at left is holding a FAB-50 bomb.

I-153 with 50 liter drop tanks.

A Russian airfield during the early days of the German push to the east. I-153 biplanes and I-16 "Rata" single-seat fighter are destroyed on the ground by Luftwaffe fighters. June 1941.

Burned remains of I-153, Summer 1941.

I-153 captured by Finnish forces after a forced landing. Photo taken in June 1941.

I-153.

Borovkov-Florov I-207 (Istrebitel – fighter) was a fighter aircraft designed and built in the USSR from 1936.  Though performance was quite impressive for a biplane fighter, the type was not accepted for manufacture, and all testing came to a halt with the German invasion of 1941.

Borovkov-Florov I-207.

Borovkov-Florov I-207.

Borovkov-Florov I-207.

Borovkov-Florov I-207.

Borovkov-Florov I-207.

Borovkov-Florov I-207 during landing gear retraction tests.

Borovkov-Florov I-207.

Borovkov-Florov I-207.

Borovkov-Florov I-207.

Borovkov-Florov I-207.

IS-1. The Nikitin-Schyevchyenko IS series (Russian: Истребитель складной, romanized: Istrebitel skladnoi, meaning "folding fighter"), were single seat polymorphic fighters designed and produced in the USSR from 1938.

The IS-1 displays the mechanism that could turn it from biplane to monoplane—a unique but superfluous feature by 1941, when this photo was taken.

Even in monoplane form, the IS-1's top speed of 281 miles per hour was scarcely greater than that of the biplane I-153, but it was only meant to be a test bed for more advanced versions.

IS-2.

The IS-2 featured a more powerful engine and a longer, more streamlined fuselage than the IS-1, although the wings were virtually identical.

The Polikarpov ITP (Istrebitel Tyazholiy Pushechniy = Heavy Cannon Fighter) was a Soviet fighter prototype designed during World War II. Development was prolonged by the evacuation of the design bureau forced by the German advance on Moscow in the fall of 1941. By the time the second prototype was finished the Soviets had fighters with equivalent or better performance already in production and the program was cancelled.

The ITP (M-1) cannon-armed heavy fighter which commenced its flight test program in October 1942.

ITP (M-1).

ITP (M-1).

ITP (M-1).

ITP (M-1).

ITP (M-2).

Aeroflot Vultee PS-43. In 1936, the Soviet Union purchased four three-seat V-11-GB aircraft, together with a production license. The aircraft entered Soviet production in 1937 as the BSh-1 (Bronirovanny Shturmovik), but the armor fitted for the ground attack role unacceptably reduced performance and production was stopped after 31 aircraft. They were transferred to Aeroflot and redesignated PS-43 for use as high speed transports until the German invasion in 1941, when they were returned to the Air Force for liaison purposes.

Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmoviks with phosphorous bombs attack a German mechanized convoy on the Bryansk front in August 1941.

Tupolev SB-2. The Tupolev ANT-40, also known by its service name Tupolev SB high-speed bomber and development co-name TsAGI-40, was a high speed twin-engined three-seat monoplane bomber, first flown in 1934. The Tupolev design was advanced but lacked refinement, much to the dismay of crews, maintenance personnel, and Stalin, who pointed out that "there are no trivialities in aviation". Numerically the most important bomber in the world in the late 1930s, the SB was the first modern stressed skin aircraft produced in quantity in the Soviet Union and probably the most formidable bomber of the mid-1930s. It was produced in the Soviet Union and was also built under license in Czechoslovakia. Many versions saw extensive action in Spain, the Republic of China, Mongolia, Finland and at the beginning of World War II against Germany in 1941. It was also used in various duties in civil variants, as trainers and in many secondary roles. Successful in the Spanish Civil War because it outpaced most fighters present (composed mostly of biplanes), the aircraft was obsolete by 1941 as faster fighters (such as the Bf-109) had by then been introduced. By June 1941, 94 percent of bombers in the Red Army air force (Soviet Air Force (VVS) Red Army (RKKA) were SBs.

Tupolev PS-124 ANT-20bis (CCCP-L760) Aeroflot. The Tupolev PS-124, also known as a ANT-20bis, was used by Aeroflot on the Moscow - Mineralhye Vody route. In 1941-1942 served as the main heavy transport. this plane met its demise during a flyby with escorting biplane fighters on December 12, 1942. One young fighter pilot got so carried away with youthful pride and enthusiasm that he broke formation, and during an exuberant loop, ended up colliding with the wing of the plane. Both planes perished. This cocky pilots' last name was Blagin, and so "Blaginism" was the term used to describe a a cocky disregard for authority.

Tupolev MTB-2. Tupolev MTB-2 heavy naval bomber, aka the ANT-44, a Soviet flying boat first flown in 1937. While it had good performance, only two were built due to a focus on land-based bombers in the Soviet Navy.

Tupolev MTB-1. he Tupolev MTB-1 (known originally as the MDR-4 and internally to Tupolev as the ANT-27) was a patrol flying boat built in the Soviet Union in the mid-1930s. It was a refined version of the unsuccessful Chyetverikov MDR-3. The revised design retained the MDR-3's hull, but added a newly designed, full-cantilever wing, a new tail, and a new engine installation featuring two tractor and one pusher unit. Trials began in March 1934 but the prototype was destroyed during one takeoff. A second prototype was constructed the following year, and redesignated MTB-1 to reflect a new torpedo-carrying role. Despite its poor performance in trials, the aircraft was urgently needed to fill a niche in the Soviet Navy, and it was accepted for production before flight testing was complete. Despite some early structural failures, 15 of these machines were eventually produced and saw service in the Navy for several years, remaining in service until 1942.

Tupolev I-14. The Tupolev I-14 (also designated ANT-31) was a Soviet fighter aircraft of the 1930s. It was a single-engined, single-seat monoplane with retractable undercarriage, designed to carry heavy armament, and as such was one of the most advanced fighters of its time. It was ordered into production, but this was cancelled after only a small number had been built, the competing Polikarpov I-16 being preferred.

Tupolev DB-1. The Tupolev DB-1 (ANT-36) was a Soviet long-range bomber developed in the 1930s. It was developed from the Tupolev ANT-25 distance record-breaking aircraft. Development was prolonged and it was recognized as obsolete by the time it was in production. Only eighteen were built and all were withdrawn from service in 1937.

Tupolev ANT-25 (N025-1) after landing in a pasture at San Jacinto, Calif., after setting a new long-distance flight record of 6668 miles.

TB-3 bomber near Wjasma, July 1941, caught on the ground by Dornier bombers.

Tupolev TB-3.

TB-3 (ANT-6) with AM-34 engines.

Tupolev ANT-6A. Tupolev ANT-6A aircraft also known as ANT-6M-34R of the Polar Research Fleet in 1937. The letters 'ANT' stood for the name of the designer Andrei Nikolayevich Tupolev. His company is still designing and building aircraft today. These aircraft were painted in orange with blue highlights to make them easier to be spotted if they were forced to land. The skids could be removed and replaced by wheels which were carried slung under the fuselage. The legend on the nose reads as 'Aviaarktika' in English and was the name of the Independent Arctic Directorate of Aeroflot.

Tupolev ANT-6A Soviet air forces. Also known as ANT-6M-34R.

Soviet pilot.

Soviet pilot.

Soviet pilot.

Soviet gunner.

Soviet female pilot.

Major General Mikhail V. Vodopyanov, commander of the 81st Air Division.

Major Endel K. Pusep led the last Soviet air raid on Berlin on 29 August 1942.

Shavrov Sh-7 (CCCP-359). Shavrov Sh-7 was built in 1940 (only one built), and was ready for series production, but the war cancelled construction of these planes.

Putilov Stal-11.

Polikarpov VIT-2, 1938.

Polikarpov I-16B.

Polikarpov I-15s and I-16s lay wrecked in the early days of Barbarossa.

Polikarpov I-15.

Polikarpov I-15.

Polikarpov I-15.

Polikarpov I-5.

A model of the Polikarpov VP(K) high-altitude interceptor which was abandoned before completion in 1944.

Petlyakov Pe-2 intermediate production version.

Petlyakov Pe-2.

Petlyakov Pe-2 in an interesting camouflage scheme.

Early Petlyakov Pe-2 at the factory.

Petlyakov Pe-2 bomber is loaded for a mission.

Petlyakov Pe-2s en route to a target over the Eastern Front.

Petlyakov Pe-2.

OKB-1 140, Soviet version of the German Ju 287.

MiG-3.

A considerable number of Russian warplanes were destroyed on the ground by German fighters, bombers, or as in the case of this disabled MiG-3 single-seat fighter, by artillery fire.

This MiG-3 had an armament of two 7.6 mm machine guns and one 12.7mm machine gun. Captured on the ground near Kiew, Ukraine, a Luftwaffe mechanic is inspecting the cockpit of the single-seat fighter.

MiG-3s.

MiG-3.

The Lisunov Li-2 was a license-built version of the Douglas DC-3 transport.

The Kharkiv KhAI-5, {sometimes Neman R-10) was a Soviet reconnaissance and light bomber aircraft, designed in the mid-1930s in the Kharkiv Aviation Institute (KhAI, - in Ukrainian: ХАІ), under the direction of Iosif Grigorevich Nyeman (sometimes written as Neman).

Curious German mechanics are dismantling a Il-10U "Shturmoviki." Note the underwing rocket projectile racks for RS 132 rockets.

Ilyushin DB-3F (Il-4). A characteristically used and abused Il-4 and its ball-like MV-3 dorsal turret. Thanks to its generous access opening, we can observe the gunner loading the ammo for the 12.7 mm UBT heavy machine gun. He wears the standard issue headgear, the well-known “rectangular” goggles and what seems to be the copy of the Luftwaffe LKp 100 introduced in 1941—not much space for individuality in the USSR.

Ilyushin Il-4.

Il-2 being examined by German soldiers.

Il-2, 7005, Production Plant No. 1 at the Statispytaniâh in TSAGI, Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute.

Ilyushin Il-2, 2263, being built at Production Plant No. 30 at Statispytaniâh in TSAGI at the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute.

Major George A. Osipov, Soviet Air Forces, in the cockpit of his Il-2, Belorussian Front, 1943, but in 1944 he was flying the A-20 Boston.

Il-2 ground attack aircraft in flight.

Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik.

Hurricane of Sqn Ldr Tony Rook near Murmansk, Russia in 1941. An RAF squadron was sent to Russia to aid the beleaguered country.

RAF Hurricane test fires its eight .303 machine guns near Murmansk, Russia, in 1942.

Jack Ross, instructor to Russian Hurricane pilots near Murmansk, puts on his parachute.

A shell shocked reindeer as Hurricanes drop bombs, Murmansk, Russia, 1941. Most likely a composite photo for propaganda purposes. The Hurricane first saw Soviet land when the RAF 151 Wing arrived to Murmansk in 1941. That expeditionary force was sent to guard the vital harbors, to provide operational training there, and—more important—to show the British commitment with their Soviet allies. When that wing withdrew its Hurricanes remained there for Soviet use; further deliveries of Hurricanes and other aircraft followed.

Hawker Hurricane IIB Trop (Z5252), “01,” which was presented to Major-General A A Kuznetzov, Soviet Commanding Officer, Naval Air Forces, Soviet Northern Fleet (VVS SF).

Bell P-63A (42-69721) in temporary Soviet markings for ferrying to Russia via Alaska.

US-made P-63 Kingcobra fighter aircraft, in service of the Soviet Air Force, in flight over the Kamchatka Peninsula in the far east of Russia.

Bell P-39D Airacobras, with Soviet national insignia, lined up in Alaska for flight to Russia under the Lend Lease agreement.

Antonov A-7 was the winner of a competition for a military assault glider in December 1940. Of all-wood construction, with a fabric-covered wing (aft of the main spar) and control surfaces, it was remarkably refined. From May 1941, 400 A-7s were produced, some saw action behind the German lines, towed by Tupolev SB-2s.

Soviet C-53 landed at Ladd Field on September 4, 1942, with the first Russian inspectors and pilots to take over Lend-Lease aircraft flights.

Chyetverikov MDR-6B-1.

Chyetverikov ARK-3.

Bolkhovitinov DB-A (N-209). This is the prototype Bolkhovitinov DB-A. 'DB-A' is the abbreviation of 'Dalnij Bombardirowschik - Academija' which means 'Long-range bomber by the Academy' in Russian. It first flew in May 1935. On August 12, 1937 it set off on an attempt to fly from Moscow to the US over the North Pole. The aircraft never arrived. The pilot Lyapidevskiy, the crew and the aircraft were all lost without trace. A production run of 16 aircraft was started, but stopped when the 12th was completed.

Bisnovat SK-2 Soviet Air Forces. A direct result of high-speed wing research conducted at the TsAGI (Central Aerodynamics and Hydrodynamics Institute) by a team headed by Matus Bisnovat, the SK-2 single-seat fighter was evolved from the SK-1. Flight test results were allegedly promising, but not sufficiently so to warrant displacing established fighter types in production.

Beriev MBR-7.

Beriev Be-2.

TB-3 bomber air dropping a T-38 amphibious tank into water.

TB-3 bomber carrying a T-27 tankette, 1935.

Polikarpov I-15s and I-16s lay wrecked in the early days of Barbarossa.

Ilyushin Il-4. In the very tactical Soviet Air Force of the Great Patriotic War bombers like this Ilyushin were at a very secondary level. The Il-4 was a medium bomber derived from the “very late 1930s” DB-3, so by the time it entered service it proved to be a honest, if somewhat lackluster performer. It had nevertheless its moments of dash and glory like when they took part in the very publicized raids against Berlin.

Curtiss Tomahawk II (AH965), 126 IAP, Soviet Air Force, flown by Lt. S.G. Ridnyi, Moscow area, December 1941.

Curtiss Tomahawk II, 126 IAP, Soviet Air Force, getting ready for another combat mission.

Three Soviet Air Force Curtiss Tomahawk IIs (including AH965 again) in temporary winter camouflage.

Curtiss Tomahawk, Soviet Air Force.

The Commissar (political officer) of the Soviet Air Force 20th GIAP greets A. Khlobystov after his successful return from a sortie during which he rammed two enemy aircraft. Note the wing damage. The picture is dated 8 April 1942, Murmashi airfield, Karelian Front.

Curtiss P-40E Warhawk, 29th IAP, Soviet Air Force, Karelian Front, 1943.

Curtiss P-40E Warhawk, 29th IAP, Soviet Air Force, Karelian Front, 1943.

B.F. Safonov, commander of the 2nd GSAP VVS SF (Guards Mixed Air Regiment of the Northern Fleet Air Forces), Soviet Air Force, in the cockpit of his Curtiss P-40E Warhawk. May 1942, Vayenga Airfield.

Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (U.S. serial 42-46279), Soviet Air Force.

Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, Soviet Air Force.

Curtiss P-40 Warhawk with pilots of the 154th IAP, Soviet Air Force, Leningrad Front.

Pilots of the 19th GvIAP, Soviet Air Force, in front of a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk.

Curtiss P-40 Warhawk flown by Leonid Sergeevich Kulakov, 13rd GvIAP, Soviet Air Force, being congratulated by Party Organizer Smirnov for shooting down two Heinkel He 111s.

A.A. Kovalenko, 2nd GSAP VVS SF, Soviet Air Force. He was awarded DFC on 19 March 1942 and HSU on 14 June 1942.

Curtiss P-40 Warhawks, 191st IAP, Soviet Air Force, 1944.

Kulakov having his pulse checked by the flight surgeon, 103rd GvIAP, Soviet Air Force, alongside his Curtiss P-40 Warhawk.

As the Curtiss P-40s were in great demand by the Soviet Air Force, maintaining them was difficult when spare parts, especially engines, were not available. Forty P-40s were re-engined with Soviet Klimov M-105P and M-105R engines, which were not as powerful as the original Allison engines and performance suffered accordingly.

The remains of a Soviet Air Force Curtiss P-40 that has crashed and burned.

Curtiss P-40 Warhawk in Soviet markings.

P-39 with belly ferry tank for flight to Russia from Alaska.

Soviet pilot in the cockpit of a P-39 prior to a ferry flight from Alaska to Russia, February 1944.

P-39 ready for take-off from Alaska for ferry flight to Russia.

Two Russian airmen play chess between missions on the Karelian Front. Behind them sits a Curtiss P-40 fighter.

Petlyakov Pe-2 being manhandled into the woods to hide it from enemy aircraft. Pilot M. Borisov, gunner M. Boldaev. Summer 1943, 162nd Guards.

An M-62-powered I-153 that had crash-landed at its base after combat during the opening phase of Operation Barbarossa and was subsequently found by German forces when the airfield was captured. Small caliber bullet holes can be seen immediately aft of the engine cowling and in the lower wing/fuselage fillet.