Making its first appearance in 1928 the Polikarpov U-2 primary trainer would ultimately be pressed into service in a number of roles during WW II, including general liaison, light attack, night intruder, propaganda aircraft (fitted with microphone and loud speaker), air ambulance and VIP transport.
After Polikarpov's death on 30 July 1944 the U-2 was redesignated Po-2 in his honour.
This was one of the most widely built aircraft ever, with production totalling in excess of 33,000 machines.
