Il-2 Shturmovik

Red Avenger

The Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik armoured attack aircraft became an icon of Soviet resistance on the Eastern Front in the Second World War. Known throughout the Wehrmacht as the Fleischer ( Butcher ), the Il-2 took a terrible toll on German infantry and armoured vehicles including tanks and assault guns and when equipped with a rear gunner, German bombers and even the occasional fighter were among its victims. However, the cost was also great; during the early stages of the war, Il-2 pilots were not expected to survive more than an average of five or six sorties. The Il-2 Shturmovik was designed as a low-level close-support aircraft capable of penetrating enemy armour and destroying ground targets. Dubbed the Flying Tank by Soviet air crews, it was engineered to withstand tremendous punishment and still drop its payload and return to base; Luftwaffe pilots were often amazed to see 20-mm cannon shells bouncing off its armoured plates. At its peak, production of the Il-2 reached 900 aircraft per month, and by the end of the war over 36,000 had been built. It became a renowned symbol of Soviet resilience and was undoubtedly the most important aircraft of the Red Air Force in the Second World War. Il-2 Shturmovik: Red Avenger is the first comprehensive reference work on the Il-2 to be written by a native English speaker. It combines minute detail on the aircraft s design and technical development with a thrilling account of its service history on the Eastern Front and in other theatres, enhanced by the fascinating testimonies of former pilots. Uniquely illustrated with over 200 images many previously unpublished and 50 stunningly accurate colour profiles, this book is essential reading for Second World War historians, aviation enthusiasts, and modellers alike.