“Soviet airfield, (belarus summer 1944)”
The Ilyushin il-2 “Shturmovik” is the third most produced aircraft in history. In Soviet opinion it was the most decisive aircraft in the history of modern land warfare. Joseph Stalin paid the Il-2 a great tribute in his own inimitable manner: when a particular production factory fell behind on its deliveries, Stalin sent a cable to the factory manager, stating “They are as essential to the Red Army as air and bread.”
July 04, 2009, 3:12pm
