WD74W2

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This view of the restored Il-2 Red 19, now registered RA-2783G in flight over the Russian countryside, gives some indication of the effectiveness of the aircraft’s camouflage paint scheme. 66 66 • warbird digest warbird digest • sept/oct 2017 • sept/oct 2017
By Mark Sheppherd Photos Boris Osaythinskiy uring the Great Patriotic War (what we call World War Two), the aircraft produced in greater numbers than any other type, by any nation, was the Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik of Soviet Russia. With a production run of 36,183 examples, it has since only been surpassed by the ubiquitous Cessna 172 in total numbers built. Construction consisted of a steel, armored forward fuselage, aluminum wings and horizontal tail, with the remainder built of wood. A heavily armed and armored attack aircraft, most models had provision for a rear seat gunner, although it wasn’t part of the original design. According to legend, Stalin received a letter from a forlorn IL-2 pilot on the Eastern Front begging for the addition of a rear seat gunner because his squadron had been decimated by German attacks from the rear. Stalin felt personally compelled to insist a gunner position be incorporated into the design. This did nothing for the flying characteristics of the Il-2 because the center of balance of what had been a fairly stable aircraft was seriously altered. While the aircraft may have been safer from an attack from the rear, it wasn’t very safe to fly. Later models incorporated a further 10% of sweep to the wings, from 5% of sweep on original models to 15% of sweep on later examples. This went a long way toward solving the center of gravity issues, yielding a much more stable aircraft - something a dedicated ground attack aircraft requires to make accurate strafing or bomb runs. The Shturmovik was in service from the opening stages of Operation Barbarossa, Hitler’s invasion of Russia in June 1941, until the final battle, when victorious Russian forces converged on the beleaguered city of Berlin in May 1945. Throughout the war it provided yeoman service and was known to be a reliable weapon capable of delivering a substantial blow to the enemy. It could also take a lot of punishment and still bring its crew home. This endeared it to not only its crews, but also to the 67
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warbirddigest.com Number 74 WARBIRD
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OFFERED FOR SALE OFFERED FOR SALE O
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76 FLYNG THE IL-2 We go in the cock
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World Wide Coverage For Quality War
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SEPTEMBER 4TH The Navy Wings Hawker
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The Collings Foundation is well kno
Page 15 and 16: posthumously awarded the Victoria C
Page 17 and 18: last of which took six aircraft ove
Page 19 and 20: at Amiens, although half of them on
Page 21 and 22: The weather in early October was dr
Page 23 and 24: Today, BR601 wears the markings it
Page 25 and 26: 3 4 5 1 With wings shorn off outboa
Page 27 and 28: 4 5 6 1 One of the conditions of La
Page 29 and 30: 2 The Spitfire Company at Biggin Hi
Page 31 and 32: of numerous Spitfire Mk. IX-equippe
Page 33 and 34: Photo: Scott Slocum 33
Page 35 and 36: Photo: Scott Slocum 35
Page 37 and 38: A MINUTE IN HISTORY By Ann-Marie Lo
Page 39 and 40: Photo: Xavier Meal 39 39
Page 41 and 42: 4 2 3 While it was a process for De
Page 43 and 44: The focus on installing all of the
Page 45 and 46: 4 and stamped them with the 1940s v
Page 47 and 48: …It fit like a glove. The fact th
Page 49 and 50: Photo: Xavier Meal 49 49
Page 51 and 52: 3 4 3 justifiably proud of their ac
Page 53 and 54: Mark Denest, restorer, consults wit
Page 55 and 56: 2 3 should be able to put all the t
Page 57 and 58: Heart of the Lady The Yankee Lady i
Page 59 and 60: 3 Washington, and were about to be
Page 61 and 62: 3 3 Onboard Yankee Lady, taking par
Page 63 and 64: ...Ellickson and his team were rewa
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Page 69 and 70: 2 3 34 1 Pilot Vladimir Bursuk bank
Page 71 and 72: of the Vadim Zadorozhny Technical M
Page 73 and 74: 3 4 Luftwaffe in their official rec
Page 75 and 76: Created by an aviator, for aviators
Page 77 and 78: Profile: Juanita Franzi position un
Page 79 and 80: similar to aircraft like the MiG-3
Page 81 and 82: feeling that I have forgotten somet
Page 83 and 84: TOTEST By Stephen Chapis In his boo
Page 85 and 86: sand dunes of Kitty Hawk, North Car
Page 87 and 88: it was flown to the surplus depot i
Page 89 and 90: had completed the required paperwor
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Page 93 and 94: 4 Mohen fabricated a cannon to acce
Page 95 and 96: 2 3 Experimental A/W certificates d
Page 97 and 98: Photo: Doug Glover blessing, the fl
Page 99 and 100: Sun Air Parts PRATT & WHITNEY ENGIN
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