Soviet aircraft of the Second World War. Aviation of the Second World War

Battles in the air, involving more than one squadron of fighters and bombers, were fought just as actively as on the ground. We will tell you about the most famous models aircraft from this period of history.

Focke Wulf Fw 190 (Germany)

It belongs to the type of fast and maneuverable single-seat fighters, carrying on board a significant weapons reserve, consisting of 4 machine guns and 2 cannons. A bomb rack was also provided, mounted in the center of the lower part of the fuselage.

Boeing B-29 Superfortress (USA)

The airplane model was the most expensive "toy" in the United States of times. Development and implementation were carried out to the maximum extent possible short time. The designers had high hopes for it.

B-25 Mitchell (USA)

The model was simple to manufacture, easy to repair, but at the same time, it performed a full range of various combat missions. None of the twin-engine bombers of this time were produced in such quantities.

Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (USA)

One of the popular aircraft of World War II.

Durable, with a long service life, and somewhat inferior in combat characteristics to similar enemy equipment.

Consokidated B-24 Liberator (USA)

A heavy military bomber, which, however, did not gain the popularity it deserved like the B-17.

Mitsubishi A6M Zero (Japan)

The successful fighter-interceptor, in the first six months of hostilities, stunned Western pilots. His superiority in the air was obvious, although after a while it faded away.

Grumman F6F Hellcat (USA)

The aircraft had several advantages: a powerful and reliable Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engine and high level pilot training.

P-51 Mustang (USA)

This aircraft model terrified Luftwaffe units. He not only accompanied heavy bombers on long flights, but also actively entered into battle, and, if necessary, attacked and destroyed enemy aircraft.

Lockheed P-38 Lightning (USA)

The best fighter of the Second World War.

Boeing B-17 (USA)

The four-engine bomber was the most popular modification of the time. Despite the undeniable advantages, US Congress approval for the purchase of this model to arm the country was delayed until the reality of the Second World War looming over the world became apparent.

Messerschmitt Bf 109 (Germany)

One of Willy Messerschmitt's simple models, produced in large quantities.

Douglas SBD Dauntless (USA)

The deck-based dive bomber is a menace to Japanese cruisers.

Junkers Ju 87 Stuka (Germany)

A single-seat dive bomber popular during World War II.

Spitfire Supermarine Spitfire (GB)

British interceptor fighter used until the 50s.

Grumman F4F Wildcat (USA)

Single-seat fighter-bomber: participating in combat operations, it gradually became a leader and gained well-deserved fame.

Yakovlev Yak-9 (USSR)

A larger number of lightweight metal parts increased the speed and maneuverability of aircraft of this modification. Refers to fighter-bombers.

Chance Vought F4U Corsair (USA)

High speed and firepower explained the model's superiority in military operations with Japan. With its help, 2,140 enemy aircraft were shot down; the losses of aircraft of this model amounted to 189 units.

Messerschmitt Me 262 (Germany)

It was the first “swallow” of a group of jet fighters and the first model of aircraft of this class participating in military operations.

Martin B-10 (USA)

The mid-range bomber, with a high speed of 210 mph, flew at an altitude of 2400 feet - a breakthrough in the field of aviation.

Polikarpov I-16 (USSR)

An undeservedly forgotten aircraft in World War II history, the single-engine fighter had a wooden structure and plywood skin. Although it had some problems in flight, its high rate of climb and maneuverability made it possible to successfully introduce it into production.

War creates a need unprecedented in Peaceful time. Countries compete to create the next great weapon, and engineers sometimes resort to intricate methods to design their killing machines. Nowhere was this more evident than in the skies of World War II: daring aircraft designers invented some of the strangest aircraft in human history.

At the beginning of World War II, the German Imperial Air Ministry stimulated the development of a tactical reconnaissance aircraft to provide information support for army operations. Two companies responded to the task. Focke-Wulf modeled a fairly standard twin-engine airplane, while Blohm & Voss miraculously came up with one of the most unusual aircraft at that time - the asymmetrical BV 141.

Although at first glance it may seem that this model was dreamed up by delirious engineers, it successfully served certain purposes. By removing the skin from the right side of the aircraft, the BV 141 gained an incomparable field of view for the pilot and observers, especially to the right and front, since the pilots were no longer encumbered by the huge engine and spinning propeller of a familiar single-engine aircraft.

The design was developed by Richard Vogt, who realized that the aircraft of that time already had, in fact, asymmetrical handling characteristics. With a heavy engine in the nose, the single-engine airplane experienced high torque, requiring constant attention and control. Vogt sought to compensate for this by introducing an ingenious asymmetrical design, creating a stable reconnaissance platform that was easier to fly than most of her airliner contemporaries.

Luftwaffe officer Ernst Udet praised the aircraft during a test flight at speeds of up to 500 kilometers per hour. Unfortunately for Blohm & Voss, Allied bombing seriously damaged one of Focke-Wulf's main factories, forcing the government to devote 80 percent of Blohm & Voss' production area to building Focke-Wulf aircraft. Since the company's already tiny staff began to work for the benefit of the latter, work on the “BV 141” was stopped after the production of only 38 copies. All of them were destroyed during the war.

Another unusual Nazi project, the Horten Ho 229, was launched almost before the end of the war, after German scientists had improved jet technology. By 1943, Luftwaffe commanders realized that they had made a huge mistake by refusing to produce a long-range heavy bomber like the American B-17 or the British Lancaster. To remedy the situation, the commander-in-chief of the German air force, Hermann Goering, put forward the “3x1000” requirement: to develop a bomber capable of transporting 1000 kilograms of bombs over a distance of 1000 kilometers at a speed of at least 1000 kilometers per hour.

Following orders, the Horten brothers began designing a "flying wing" (a type of aircraft without a tail or fuselage, like later stealth bombers). In the 1930s, Walter and Reimar experimented with similar types of gliders, which demonstrated superior handling characteristics. Using this experience, the brothers built an unpowered model to support their bomber concept. The design impressed Goering, and he transferred the project to the aircraft manufacturing company “Gothaer Waggonfaebrik” for mass production. After some modifications, the Horten airframe acquired a jet engine. It was also converted into a fighter to support the needs of the Luftwaffe in 1945. They managed to create only one prototype, which at the end of the war was placed at the disposal of the Allied forces.

At first, “Ho 229” was viewed simply as an outlandish trophy. However, when a stealth bomber of a similar design, the B-2, entered service, aerospace experts became interested in the stealth characteristics of its German ancestor. In 2008, Northrop Grumman engineers recreated a copy of the Ho 229 based on a surviving prototype housed in the Smithsonian Institution. By emitting radar signals at frequencies used during World War II, experts discovered that the Nazi aircraft actually had a lot to do with stealth technology: it had much lower radar signature compared to its combat contemporaries. Quite by accident, the Horten brothers invented the first stealth fighter-bomber.

In the 1930s, American Vought engineer Charles H. Zimmerman began experimenting with disc-shaped aircraft. The first flying model was the V-173, which took off in 1942. It had problems with the gearbox, but overall it was a durable, highly maneuverable aircraft. While his company churned out the famous “F4U Corsair,” Zimmerman continued work on a disc-shaped fighter that would eventually see the light of day as the “XF5U.”

Military experts assumed that the new “fighter” would in many ways surpass other aircraft available at that time. Powered by two huge Pratt & Whitney engines, the plane was expected to reach a high speed of about 885 kilometers per hour, slowing down to 32 kilometers per hour upon landing. To give the airframe strength while keeping the weight as low as possible, the prototype was built from "metalite" - a material consisting of thin sheet balsa wood covered with aluminum. However, various problems with the engines caused Zimmerman a lot of trouble, and the Second World War ended before they could be eliminated.

Vought did not cancel the project, but by the time the fighter was ready for testing, the US Navy decided to focus its attention on jet aircraft. The contract with the military expired, and Vought employees tried to dispose of the XF5U, but it turned out that the metalite structure was not so easy to destroy: the demolition core dropped on the airplane only bounced off the metal. Finally, after several new attempts, the body of the aircraft bent, and blowtorches its remains were incinerated.

Of all the aircraft presented in the article, the Boulton Paul Defiant remained in service the longest. Unfortunately, this resulted in many deaths of young pilots. The airplane appeared as a result of a misconception in the 1930s regarding the further development of the situation on the air front. The British command believed that the enemy bombers would be poorly protected and largely without reinforcements. In theory, a fighter with a powerful turret could penetrate the attacking formation and destroy it from the inside. Such a weapon arrangement would free the pilot from the duties of a gunner, allowing him to concentrate on getting the aircraft into the optimal firing position.

And the Defiant coped well with all the tasks during its first missions, as many unsuspecting German fighter pilots mistook the aircraft for an appearance similar to the Hawker Hurricane, attacking it from above or from the rear - ideal points for the machine gunner "Defiant". However, the Luftwaffe pilots quickly realized what was happening and began to attack from below and from the front. Without frontal weapons and limited maneuverability due to the heavy turret, Defiant aviators suffered huge losses during the Battle of Britain. The Foggy Albion Air Force lost almost its entire fighter squadron, and the Defiant gunners were not able to leave the plane in emergency situations.

Although the pilots were able to come up with various temporary tactics, the Royal air Force they soon realized that the turret-mounted fighter was not designed for modern air combat. The Defiant was demoted to a night fighter role, after which it found some success sneaking up on and destroying enemy bombers on night missions. The Briton's robust hull was also used as a target for target practice and in testing the first Martin-Baker ejection seats.

During the period between the First and Second World Wars, various countries became increasingly concerned about the issue of defense against strategic bombing during subsequent hostilities. Italian General Giulio Douhet believed that it was impossible to defend against massive air attacks, and British politician Stanley Baldwin coined the phrase “the bomber will always get through.” In response, major powers invested heavily in developing “bomber busters”—heavy fighters designed to intercept enemy formations in the skies. The English Defiant failed, while the German BF-110 performed well in various roles. And finally, among them was the American “YFM-1 Airacuda”.

This aircraft was Bell's first attempt at military aircraft construction and featured many unusual features. In order to give the Airacuda the highest chance of destroying the enemy, Bell equipped it with two 37mm M-4 guns, placing them in front of the rare pusher engines and propellers located behind them. Each gun was assigned a separate shooter, whose main responsibility was to manually reload it. Initially, gunners also directly fired weapons. However, the results were a complete disaster, and the design of the aircraft was changed, placing the control levers of the guns in the hands of the pilot.

Military strategists believed that with additional machine guns in defensive positions - in the main fuselage to repel flank attacks - the aircraft would be indestructible both when attacking enemy bombers and when escorting B-17s over enemy territory. All these design elements gave the aircraft a rather three-dimensional appearance, making it look like a cute cartoon airplane. The Airacuda was a veritable death machine that looked like it was made for cuddling.

Despite optimistic forecasts, tests revealed serious problems. The engines were prone to overheating and did not produce enough thrust. Therefore, in reality, “Airacuda” developed a lower maximum speed than the bombers it was supposed to intercept or protect. The original arrangement of the weapon only added to the difficulties, since the gondolas in which it was placed filled with smoke when firing, making the work of the machine gunners extremely difficult. In addition to this, they could not escape from their cabins in an emergency because the propellers were working right behind them, turning their attempt to escape into a meeting with death. As a result of these problems, the US Army Air Forces acquired only 13 aircraft, none of which received a baptism of fire. The remaining gliders were dispersed throughout the country so that the pilots could add notes about the strange aircraft in its logbooks, and Bell continued to try (more successfully) to develop a military aircraft.

Despite the arms race, military gliders were an important part of the air technology of World War II. They were lifted into the air in tow and detached near enemy territories, providing fast delivery cargo and troops as part of airborne operations. Among all the gliders of that period, the “flying tank” “A-40” Soviet made, of course, stood out with its design.

The countries participating in the war were looking for ways to quickly and efficiently transport tanks to the front. Transferring them using gliders seemed worthwhile idea, but engineers soon discovered that the tank was one of the most imperfect vehicles in terms of aerodynamics. After countless attempts to create a good system for supplying tanks by air, most states simply gave up. But not the USSR.

In fact, Soviet aviation had already achieved some success in landing tanks before the A-40 was developed. Small equipment like the T-27 was lifted aboard huge transport aircraft and dropped a few meters from the ground. With the gearbox set to neutral, the tank landed and rolled by inertia until it stopped. The problem was that tank crew had to be delivered separately, which significantly reduced the combat effectiveness of the system.

Ideally, tank crews would fly in on a tank and be ready for battle within a few minutes. To achieve these goals, Soviet planners turned to the ideas of American engineer John Walter Christie, who first developed the concept of a flying tank in the 1930s. Christie believed that, thanks to armored vehicles with fitted biplane wings, any war would be instantly over, since no one would be able to defend against a flying tank.

Based on the work of John Christie, the Soviet Union crossed the T-60 with a flying machine and conducted the first test flight in 1942 with brave pilot Sergei Anokhin at the helm. And although, due to the aerodynamic resistance of the tank, the glider had to be removed from the tug before reaching the planned altitude, Anokhin managed to land softly and even brought the tank back to base. Despite the enthusiastic report written by the pilot, the idea was rejected after Soviet specialists realized that they did not have aircraft powerful enough to tow operational tanks (Anokhin flew with a lightweight machine - without most weapons and with a minimal fuel supply). Unfortunately, the flying tank never left the ground again.

After Allied bombing began to undermine the German war effort, Luftwaffe commanders realized that their failure to develop heavy multi-engine bombers was a huge mistake. When the authorities finally established the corresponding orders, most German aircraft manufacturers jumped at the opportunity. These included the Horten brothers (as noted above) and the Junkers, who already had experience building bombers. Company engineer Hans Focke led the design of perhaps the most advanced German aircraft of the Second World War - the Ju-287.

In the 1930s, designers came to the conclusion that a straight-wing aircraft had a certain upper speed limit, but at that time this did not matter, since turboprop engines could not get close to these indicators in any case. However, with the development of jet technology, everything has changed. German specialists used swept wings on early jet aircraft, such as the Me-262, which avoided the problems - air compression effects - inherent in a straight wing design. Focke took this one step further and proposed the introduction of an aircraft with a forward-swept wing, which he believed would be capable of defeating any air defense. New type wing had a number of advantages: it increased maneuverability at high speeds and at high angles of attack, improved stall characteristics and freed the fuselage from weapons and engines.

First, Focke's invention was aerodynamically tested using a special stand; many parts from other aircraft, including captured Allied bombers, were taken to make the model. “Ju-287” performed excellently during test flights, confirming compliance with all declared operational characteristics. Unfortunately for Focke, interest in jet bombers quickly faded, and his project was shelved until March 1945. By that time, desperate Luftwaffe commanders were looking for any fresh ideas to inflict damage on the Allied forces - production of the Ju-287 was launched in record time, but the war ended two months later, after the construction of only a few prototypes. It took another 40 years for the forward-swept wing to begin to revive in popularity, thanks to American and Russian aerospace engineers.

George Cornelius is a famous American engineer, designer of a number of extravagant gliders and aircraft. During the 30s and 40s he worked on new types of aircraft designs, among other things, experimenting with forward-swept wings (like the Ju-287). Its gliders had excellent stall characteristics and could be towed at high speeds without exerting a significant braking effect on the towing airplane. When World War II broke out, Cornelius was brought in to design the XFG-1, one of the most specialized aircraft ever built. In essence, the XFG-1 was a flying fuel tank.

George's plan was to produce both manned and unmanned versions of his glider, both of which could be towed by the latest bombers at their cruising speed of 400 kilometers per hour, twice the speed of most other gliders. The idea of ​​using the unmanned XFG-1 was revolutionary. The B-29s were expected to tow the glider, pumping fuel from its tank through connected hoses. With a tank capacity of 764 gallons, the XFG-1 would act as a flying refueling station. After emptying the fuel storage, the B-29 would detach the airframe and it would dive to the ground and crash. This scheme would significantly increase the flight range of bombers, allowing raids on Tokyo and other Japanese cities. The manned XFG-1 would be used in a similar way, but more rationally, since the glider could be landed, and not simply destroyed after the fuel intake was completed. Although it is worth wondering what kind of pilot would dare to undertake such a task as flying a fuel tank over a dangerous combat zone.

During testing, one of the prototypes crashed, and Cornelius's plan was abandoned without further attention when the Allied forces captured the islands near the Japanese archipelago. With the new location of the air bases, the need to refuel the B-29 to achieve its mission objectives was eliminated, taking the XFG-1 out of the game. After the war, George continued to pitch his idea to the US Air Force, but by then their interest had shifted to specialized refueling aircraft. And the “XFG-1” simply became an inconspicuous footnote in the history of military aviation.

The idea of ​​a flying aircraft carrier first appeared during the First World War and was tested during the interwar period. In those years, engineers dreamed of a huge airship carrying small fighters capable of leaving the mother ship to protect it from enemy interceptors. British and American experiments ended in complete failure, and in the end the idea was abandoned, as the loss of its tactical value by large rigid airships became obvious.

But while American and British specialists were winding down their projects, the Soviet Air Force was just getting ready to enter the development arena. In 1931, aviation engineer Vladimir Vakhmistrov proposed using Tupolev heavy bombers to lift smaller fighters into the air. This made it possible to significantly increase the latter's flight range and bomb load compared to their usual capabilities as dive bombers. Without bombs, aircraft could also defend their carriers from enemy attacks. Throughout the 1930s, Vakhmistrov experimented with various configurations, stopping only when he had attached as many as five fighters to one bomber. By the time the Second World War began, the aircraft designer revised his ideas and came to a more practical design of two I-16 fighter-bombers suspended from the mother TB-3.

The USSR High Command was sufficiently impressed with the concept to try to put it into practice. The first raid on Romanian oil storage facilities was successful, with both fighters detaching from the aircraft and striking before returning to the Soviet forward base. After such a successful start, 30 more raids were carried out, the most famous of which was the destruction of the bridge near Chernovodsk in August 1941. The Red Army spent months trying to destroy him to no avail, until they finally deployed two of Vakhmistrov's monsters. The carrier aircraft released their fighters, which began to bomb the previously inaccessible bridge. Despite all these victories, a few months later the Zveno project was closed, and the I-16 and TB-3 were discontinued in favor of more modern models. Thus ended the career of one of the strangest - but most successful - aviation creations in human history.

Most people are familiar with Japanese kamikaze missions, which used old planes loaded with explosives as anti-ship weapons. They even developed the special-purpose rocket plane projectile “MXY-7”. Less widely known is Germany's attempt to build a similar weapon by turning the V-1 "cruise bomb" into manned "cruise missile."

As the end of the war approached, the Nazi High Command was desperately looking for a way to interfere with Allied shipping across the English Channel. The V-1 rounds had potential, but the need for extreme accuracy (which was never their advantage) led to the creation of a manned version. German engineers managed to install a small cockpit with simple controls in the fuselage of the existing V-1, right in front of the jet engine.

Unlike the V-1 missiles, which were launched from the ground, the Fi-103R manned bombs were supposed to be lifted into the air and launched from He-111 bombers. After which the pilot had to see the target ship, direct his plane at it, and then fly away.

German pilots did not follow the example of their Japanese colleagues and did not lock themselves in the cockpits of aircraft, but tried to escape. However, with the engine roaring directly behind the wheelhouse, escape would probably have been fatal in any case. These slim chances of survival for the pilots soured the Luftwaffe commanders' impression of the program, so no operational mission was destined to take place. However, 175 V-1 bombs were converted into Fi-103Rs, most of which fell into Allied hands at the end of the war.

After the invention of the first aircraft and structures, they began to be used for military purposes. This is how it appeared combat aviation, becoming the main part of the armed forces of all countries of the world. This article describes the most popular and effective Soviet aircraft, which made a special contribution to the victory over the fascist invaders.

The tragedy of the first days of the war

IL-2 became the first model new scheme aircraft design. Ilyushin’s design bureau realized that this approach noticeably worsened the design and made it heavier. The new design approach provided new opportunities for more rational use aircraft mass. This is how the Ilyushin-2 appeared - an aircraft that, due to its particularly strong armor, earned the nickname “flying tank”.

IL-2 created an incredible number of problems for the Germans. The aircraft was initially used as a fighter, but did not prove particularly effective in this role. Poor maneuverability and speed did not give the Il-2 the opportunity to fight fast and destructive German fighters. Moreover, the weak rear protection allowed the Il-2 to be attacked by German fighters from behind.

The developers also experienced problems with the aircraft. During the entire period of the Great Patriotic War, the armament of the Il-2 was constantly changing, and a seat for a co-pilot was also equipped. This threatened that the plane could become completely uncontrollable.

But all these efforts gave desired result. The original 20mm cannons were replaced with large-caliber 37mm ones. With such powerful weapons, the attack aircraft became feared by almost all species. ground troops, from infantry to tanks and armored vehicles.

According to some recollections of pilots who fought on the Il-2, firing from the guns of the attack aircraft led to the fact that the plane literally hung in the air from strong recoil. In the event of an attack by enemy fighters, the tail gunner covered the unprotected part of the Il-2. Thus, the attack aircraft actually became a flying fortress. This thesis is confirmed by the fact that the attack aircraft took several bombs on board.

All these qualities were a great success, and the Ilyushin-2 became simply an indispensable aircraft in any battle. It became not only a legendary attack aircraft of the Great Patriotic War, but also broke production records: in total, about 40 thousand copies were produced during the war. Thus, Soviet-era aircraft could compete with the Luftwaffe in all respects.

Bombers

Bomber, with tactical point vision, irreplaceable part combat aviation in any battle. Perhaps the most recognizable Soviet bomber of the Great Patriotic War is the Pe-2. It was developed as a tactical super-heavy fighter, but over time it was transformed into a dangerous dive bomber.

It should be noted that Soviet bomber-class aircraft made their debut precisely during the Great Patriotic War. The appearance of bombers was determined by many factors, but the main one was the development of the air defense system. Special tactics for using bombers were immediately developed, which involved approaching the target at high altitude, sharply descending to the bomb-dropping altitude, and an equally abrupt departure into the sky. This tactic yielded results.

Pe-2 and Tu-2

A dive bomber drops its bombs without following a horizontal line. He literally falls on his target and drops the bomb only when there are only 200 meters left to the target. The consequence of this tactical move is impeccable accuracy. But, as you know, an aircraft at low altitude can be hit by anti-aircraft guns, and this could not but affect the design system of bombers.

Thus, it turned out that the bomber had to combine the incompatible. It should be as compact and maneuverable as possible, and at the same time carry heavy ammunition. In addition, the design of the bomber was assumed to be durable, capable of withstanding impact. anti-aircraft gun. Therefore, the Pe-2 aircraft suited this role very well.

The Pe-2 bomber complemented the Tu-2, which was very similar in parameters. It was a twin-engine dive bomber, which was used according to the tactics described above. The problem with this aircraft was the insignificant orders of the model at aircraft factories. But by the end of the war the problem was corrected, the Tu-2 was even modernized and successfully used in battle.

Tu-2 performed a wide variety of combat missions. It served as an attack aircraft, bomber, reconnaissance aircraft, torpedo bomber and interceptor.

IL-4

The Il-4 tactical bomber rightly earned the title of the most beautiful aircraft of the Great Patriotic War, making it difficult to confuse it with any other aircraft. The Ilyushin-4, despite its complicated controls, was popular in the Air Force; the aircraft was even used as a torpedo bomber.

The IL-4 is entrenched in history as the aircraft that carried out the first bombing of the capital of the Third Reich - Berlin. And this happened not in May 1945, but in the fall of 1941. But the bombing did not last long. In winter, the front shifted far to the East, and Berlin became out of reach of Soviet dive bombers.

Pe-8

During the war years, the Pe-8 bomber was so rare and unrecognizable that it was sometimes even attacked by its own air defenses. However, it was he who performed the most difficult combat missions.

Although the long-range bomber was produced back in the late 1930s, it was the only aircraft of its class in the USSR. The Pe-8 had the highest speed (400 km/h), and the fuel supply in the tank made it possible to carry bombs not only to Berlin, but also to return back. The aircraft was equipped with the largest caliber bombs, up to the five-ton FAB-5000. It was the Pe-8 that bombed Helsinki, Koenigsberg, and Berlin at a time when the front line was in the Moscow area. Because of its operating range, the Pe-8 was called a strategic bomber, and in those years this class of aircraft was just being developed. All Soviet aircraft of World War II belonged to the class of fighters, bombers, reconnaissance aircraft or transport aircraft, but not to strategic aviation, only the Pe-8 was a kind of exception to the rule.

One of the most important operations performed by the Pe-8 was the transportation of V. Molotov to the USA and Great Britain. The flight took place in the spring of 1942 along a route that passed through Nazi-occupied territories. Molotov traveled on the passenger version of the Pe-8. Only a few such aircraft were developed.

Today, thanks to technological progress, tens of thousands of passengers are transported every day. But in those distant war days, every flight was a feat, both for pilots and passengers. There was always a high probability of being shot down, and a downed Soviet plane meant the loss of not only valuable lives, but also great damage to the state, which was very difficult to compensate.

Completing short review, which describes the most popular Soviet aircraft of the Great Patriotic War, it should be mentioned that all development, construction and air battles took place in conditions of cold, hunger and lack of personnel. However, each new machine was an important step in the development of world aviation. The names of Ilyushin, Yakovlev, Lavochkin, Tupolev will forever remain in military history. And not just chapters design bureaus, but also ordinary engineers and ordinary workers made a huge contribution to the development of Soviet aviation.

This section of the site is dedicated to combat aircraft that took part in the war and were built in the pre-war period and during the war. If the production of aircraft continues in the post-war period, data on their number from total number releases were excluded. Total the release of a particular aircraft does not mean that all aircraft built took part in hostilities. When describing the tactical and technical characteristics, the data of the latest modification were given, unless otherwise indicated in the text. Civil aircraft, which were used for military needs, but did not undergo re-equipment, were not considered in this section. Aircraft transferred or received from one country to another (including under Lend-Lease agreements) were not taken into account, just as captured aircraft were not taken into account.

Military aviation- view armed forces, whose main weapons are combat aircraft. The first aircraft suitable for military purposes appeared shortly after the birth of aviation itself. The first country to use aircraft for military purposes was Bulgaria - its aircraft attacked and conducted reconnaissance of Ottoman positions during the First Balkan War of 1912-1913. The first war in which aircraft were assigned important role in offensive, defensive and reconnaissance, there was the First World War. Both the Entente and Central states Airplanes were actively used in this war. By the end of the war, the armies of the main warring states already had about 11 thousand aircraft, including over a thousand in the Russian one. During the First World War, the first types of military aviation were created: bomber, fighter, reconnaissance. The speed of the aircraft used gradually increased from 100-120 to 200-220 km/h, the highest flight altitude (ceiling) - from 2-3 to 6-7 km, the combat load reached 2-3.5 tons.

During the interwar period, military aviation, among all types of weapons, went through longest path, having changed dramatically, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Thus, in the design of aircraft they moved from biplanes to a monoplane design, careful aerodynamic “fine-tuning” of gliders, the introduction of laminated wing profiles and pressurized cabins into practice, increasing the load on the wing and complicating the landing mechanization, the use of a three-wheeled landing gear with a nose support, the device of teardrop-shaped cockpit canopies, armoring and protection of fuel tanks, the use of ejection systems for leaving the aircraft, replacing wood and fabric with aluminum.

Piston engines were brought to practical perfection. They began to use two-stage centrifugal superchargers and turbochargers to increase the altitude of engines, forced engine operating modes were introduced to briefly increase the power of the aircraft during takeoff and in combat, and the two-blade propeller was replaced by a propeller with a large number of blades. Water-cooled gasoline engines were replaced by air-cooled rotary and radial engines. They tried to use experimental jet engines and rocket take-off boosters.

The aircraft's weapons system has also undergone significant changes. Rifle caliber machine gun armament has been replaced heavy machine guns and guns. Turret-mounted rifle installations were replaced by turret-type installations, sometimes with remote control. Mechanical sights have been replaced with gyroscopic ones. Rockets began to be used.

The use of airborne radar stations (radars) on aircraft was the main qualitative change in the technical revolution of aircraft manufacturing. The aircraft were able to fly at any time of the day, in any weather conditions, and detect the enemy in advance in the air, at sea and under water.

Specialized aircraft appeared - aviation was divided into land and sea. By the beginning of the war, a clear classification of combat aircraft had developed: fighters, bombers, attack aircraft, coastal sea-based aircraft and carrier-based aircraft, float planes, flying boats and amphibious boats, training aircraft, military transport and auxiliary aircraft. Some countries used military gliders and airships.

During the war years, contrary to a widely held point of view, there was no qualitative leap in the development of aviation technology. Moreover, there were fewer fundamental innovations in aircraft design during the war than in the previous six years. This is explained by the fact that in most cases the leadership of the countries involved in the intense struggle had little interest in developments aimed at the long term; the main task was to satisfy the immediate requirements of the front. In Germany, they even introduced a ban on the proactive development of new aircraft by design departments of companies. In all countries, the number of prototypes and experimental models has sharply decreased, and the development of civil aircraft has completely stopped. However, under the influence of the demands of combat best samples aircraft were built during the war.

The main impact of the war on aviation was not the acceleration of technological progress, but the increase in the production volume of aircraft. During the war, the number of aircraft in individual countries increased 10-20 times compared to its beginning.

As a result, aviation has become a powerful type of weapon, capable, in some cases, of exerting a decisive influence on the course of military operations. As you know, fighter planes saved Great Britain from the planned invasion of Germany in 1940. Another example of the decisive role of air power can be seen in the defeat of Japan, which capitulated under the onslaught of American air attacks before US troops landed on its territory.

Describing military aviation as a weapon of the Second World War in the air, it should be noted that airplanes were the main striking force both on land and on water. Military aircraft were used both as offensive and defensive weapons. Military aviation performed both independent tasks and took part in combat operations of other branches of the military.

It should be noted that the military doctrines developed by different countries before the start of World War II turned out to be untenable, and the unfolding military operations introduced fundamental changes to them. However, not all countries managed to make timely and complete adjustments to the development of military aviation.

The struggle for air supremacy, the destruction of enemy industrial centers, the support of ground troops, the destruction of enemy ships and submarines - all these tasks served as an incentive to improve aircraft and increase the scale of their production. The development of aviation was also influenced by changing views on the use of the Air Force during the war, the expansion of the geography of the theater of operations, the improvement of air defense systems, the problems of limited industrial and human resources and a number of other circumstances. Thus, the evolution of aviation technology during the war years was closely related to a whole range of external factors.

The advent of jet aircraft, of course, was a technical breakthrough, which no country was able to put into practice during the war years. The number of aircraft was meager, the technical quality was imperfect, there were no experienced pilots, and tactics were just emerging. All this prevented the new type of weapon from having any influence on the course of the war.

Approximate number of aircraft by country and type, built in pre-war times and during the war (excluding transferred/received)

Table continuation

Note

1 Fighters

2 Stormtroopers

3 Bombers

4 Sea and carrier-based aircraft

5 Seaplanes and flying boats

6 Training aircraft

7 Auxiliary aircraft

In the pre-war period and during the war, 25 countries built 974.9 thousand aircraft and military gliders, incl. in years about 800 thousand. At the same time, the five leading countries (Great Britain, Germany, USSR, USA and Japan) produced 95% of the total number of aircraft. In the total production of aircraft, fighters accounted for 32%, bombers - 22%, sea and carrier-based aircraft - 12%. Of all aircraft built, 15% was used for pilot training.

Combat aircraft from the Second World War to this day, they shine in the skies, captivating the eyes of even modern engineers and aircraft designers. Of course, modern multi-purpose devices are many times superior to their predecessors due to the presence of composite materials and powerful weapons. But you must agree that in “ birds of prey"There is something unique and fascinating about those who participated in World War II. They personify the era of great battles and victories, so we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the rating of the best combat aircraft of past years.

10 Best Aircraft of World War II

Supermarine Spitfire opens rating the best aircraft Second World War. We are talking about a British fighter with a somewhat awkward and at the same time attractive design. Among the unique “highlights” in appearance should include:

• awkward nose;
• massive wings in the form of shovels;
• lantern made in the shape of a bubble.

Speaking about the historical significance of this “old man,” it must be said that he saved the Royal Military Forces during the Battle of Britain, stopping German bombers. It was put into service at a very good time - right before the start of World War II.

We are talking about one of the most recognizable German bombers, which British fighters fought bravely against. The Heinkel He 111 cannot be confused with any other aircraft due to the unique shape of its wide wings. In fact, they determine the name “111”. It should be noted that this vehicle was created long before the war under the pretext of a passenger aircraft. Later, the model showed excellent maneuverability and speed, but during fierce battles it became clear that the characteristics did not meet expectations. The planes could not withstand the powerful attacks of rival warplanes, in particular from England.

At the beginning Patriotic War German warplanes were flying in the sky Soviet Union what they wanted, which contributed to the emergence of a new generation fighter - the La-5. The armed forces of the USSR clearly realized the need to create a powerful combat aircraft, and they managed to implement the task 100%. At the same time, the fighter has an extremely simple design. The cabin does not even have the basic instruments necessary to determine the horizon. Nevertheless, domestic pilots immediately liked the model due to its good maneuverability and speed. Literally for the first time, within days of its release, with the help of this aircraft, it was possible to eliminate 16 enemy pilot ships.

By the beginning of World War II, the Americans were in service with many good combat aircraft, but among them the most powerful is definitely North American P-51 Mustang. It is necessary to highlight unique story development of this weapon. Already at the height of the war, the British decided to order a batch of powerful aircraft from the Americans. In 1942, the first Mustangs appeared and joined the British Air Force. It turned out that these fighters were so good that the United States decided to keep them in equipping its own army. The peculiarity of the North American P-51 Mustang is the presence of huge fuel tanks. For this reason, they proved to be the best escort for powerful bombers.

Speaking about the best bombers of the Second World War, we should highlight the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, which was in service American forces. It was nicknamed the “flying fortress”, due to its good combat equipment and structural strength. This aircraft has machine guns on all sides. Some Flying Fortress units have legendary history. With their help, many feats were achieved. Pilots fell in love with combat aircraft due to their ease of control and survivability. To destroy them, the enemy needed to make a lot of effort.

The Yak-9, considered one of the most dangerous hunters, should be added to the ranking of the best aircraft of World War II. german planes. Many experts consider it the personification of the new century, due to its complex design and good characteristics. Instead of wood, which was most often used for the base, “Yak” uses duralumin. It is a versatile combat aircraft that has been used as a fighter-bomber, reconnaissance aircraft and sometimes courier transport. It was light and agile, and had powerful guns.

Another German dive bomber that is capable of falling vertically onto a target. This is the property of the German armed forces, with the help of which pilots managed to place bombs on aircrafts opponents with pinpoint precision. The Junkers Ju-87 is considered the best Blitzkrieg aircraft, which helped the Germans “march” victoriously through many zones of Europe at the beginning of the war.

The Mitsubishi A6M Zero should be added to the list of the best military aircraft of the Patriotic War. They were used during battles over the Pacific Ocean. The A6M Zero representative has enough outstanding history. One of the most advanced aircraft of the Second World War turned out to be a very unpleasant enemy for the Americans, due to its maneuverability, lightness and flight range. The Japanese spent too little effort on creating a reliable fuel tank. Many aircraft could not resist enemy forces due to the fact that the tanks quickly exploded.