Overview

The Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik is perhaps the most famous aircraft in the history of Russian and Soviet aviation. During World War 2 this rugged ground attack aircraft was arguably the Soviets most effective weapon. Protected by its heavy armour, the low-flying aircraft was incredibly difficult to shoot down and its powerful array of weaponry - cannon, machine guns, rockets and HEAT anti-tank bombs - was capable of penetrating the armour of all the German tanks in the field at the time, including the Panther and Tiger tanks, as well as reaping destruction among the ranks of enemy infantry on the ground. The Il-2 was so successful that the design was produced in greater numbers than any other military aircraft in history - over 40,000 being built 1941-55. In this book Yefim Gordon applies the successful Famous Russian Aircraft formula to this mainstay of Soviet air forces in World War 2, making this the most comprehensive book available on the subject, covering both its development and service career, with previously unpublished photographs and colour profiles illustrating in detail the variations in the aircraft such as modifications from dual to single seater and back (with a rear gunner) and unit insignia.

Full Product Details

9781857803228

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

Yefim Gordon is arguably the world's leading Russian aviation researcher. Born in 1950 in Vilnius, Lithuania, he graduated from the Kaunas Polytechnical Institute in 1972 as an engineer/electronics designer. He has been a resident of Moscow since 1973, when, as a hobby, he started collecting photographs and books on the history of Soviet aviation; this has now developed into a major archive. Since the 1980s he has been a professional aviation journalist and writer, with over 50 books published on Soviet/Russian aviation in Russian, English, Polish and Czech, as well as close to 100 magazine features and photo reports. He is also an accomplished photographer, with countless photos published in the Western press; the current edition of Jane's All the World's Aircraft features more than 50 of his photographs.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available