What was the most important allied aircraft on the eastern front?

Just Schmidt · Feb 10, 2019

As promised in the thread of tides, to focus on the everyday attrition aspect (and maybe psychological factors too), a consideration of the relative merits of the aircraft fighting the axis on the eastern front. I do realize it varies according to exact time.

This is not intended to be specifically about lend-lease, but it is deliberately kept open so we can discuss also the mighty P-39 and the indomitable P-40 (to judge from earlier discussions, and I do grant they had their merits), and indeed all the other western aircraft that fought there. I just hope it dosn't become fighting the cold war all over.

Though I regret both to not knowing enough and not really having the time to follow with well researched input myself, I do hope to learn a lot from those here who do.

I will give my own opinion that it was the Il-2 and the whole yak-family. I do admit this is rather vague. They fought the entire war, but as it seem to me that Soviet aircraft improvements were extremely incremental, even keeping track of the characteristics of different versions at different points can be tricky, at least to me. Honorable mention goes to Pe-2 and La-5 through La-7, though production numbers pales in comparizon with especially the Il-2.

Dimlee · Feb 11, 2019

Interesting question.

I'm not sure it is possible to suggest just one aircraft.
May be top 5 list as the following one, in no particular order:
1. I-16 (all types serviceable) - because it helped VVS fighting force to survive until more advanced types were adopted.
2. Pe-2 (again, all types) - as it was the most numerous short range bomber and the only dive bomber through all the war. (Just few squadrons implemented dive bomber technique, but still...). Also probably the most effective recon plane until Tu-2 was introduced in that role.
3. La-5F/FN - since it bridged the gap in speed and climb between VVS and LW fighters. That resulted in the boost of confidence of pilots and in creation of new tactical methods. Appearance of La-5 also brought Alexander Yakovlev (who was not just the designer but successful apparatchik and one of main decision makers in aviation industry and the favourite of Stalin) back to his senses and made him to work hard to create aircraft better then Yak-1/7.
4. P-39 (all types) - due to its somewhat unique role in VVS history. Ace maker, trend setter in several areas: heavy cannon, B&Z attack, extensive radio comm usage, new tactics.
5. Il-2 - because it was the most numerous CAS aircraft through all war on the Eastern Front. Successes of this type were probably exaggerated by propaganda and too often Il-2 squadrons were used as expendables... But Il-2s were everywhere, they harassed the enemy constantly, they helped infantrymen to survive and to move forward, etc.

Honoralbe mention:
1. P-40 - for being a gap stopper in certain areas in critical periods.
2. Li-2/PS-84 (licensed C-47) - transport (remember quality of Soviet road network...), night bomber, special missions.
3. Early Yak family - another "gap stopper" and better (compared to other types available) escort fighter which saved lives of many bomber and sturmovik crews.
4. B-25 (probably A-20 as well). - Reliability, protection, range, equipment - all that was much better then what Soviet industry could offer. Safety and comfort for crews and opportunity for engineers and designers to learn a lot of new things - and to implement them in domestic designs later.
5. Yak-9 family. - Many modifications, most numerous fighter type at the end of the war, the only long range fighter (Yak-9D/DD).
6. Last but not the least: three B-29s which landed safely in USSR territory. Test flights and studies of those machines has prepared historical decision to launch Tu-4 project which resurrected heavy bomber force after the war and "revolutionised" USSR air industry.

Note: I did not mention Yak-3, La-7, Tu-2 - they were very good and modern for their time, etc. But they arrived in large numbers after "the turn of the tide" ( to borrow from another thread).

pinehilljoe · Feb 12, 2019

the Douglas A-20. 3,400, and the 6000 P-39/63, that were sent to the Soviet Union. We don't know what Soviet production actually was, only the narrative the Soviets gave us.

Kevin J · Feb 12, 2019

Dimlee said:
Interesting question.

I'm not sure it is possible to suggest just one aircraft.
May be top 5 list as the following one, in no particular order:
1. I-16 (all types serviceable) - because it helped VVS fighting force to survive until more advanced types were adopted.
2. Pe-2 (again, all types) - as it was the most numerous short range bomber and the only dive bomber through all the war. (Just few squadrons implemented dive bomber technique, but still...). Also probably the most effective recon plane until Tu-2 was introduced in that role.
3. La-5F/FN - since it bridged the gap in speed and climb between VVS and LW fighters. That resulted in the boost of confidence of pilots and in creation of new tactical methods. Appearance of La-5 also brought Alexander Yakovlev (who was not just the designer but successful apparatchik and one of main decision makers in aviation industry and the favourite of Stalin) back to his senses and made him to work hard to create aircraft better then Yak-1/7.
4. P-39 (all types) - due to its somewhat unique role in VVS history. Ace maker, trend setter in several areas: heavy cannon, B&Z attack, extensive radio comm usage, new tactics.
5. Il-2 - because it was the most numerous CAS aircraft through all war on the Eastern Front. Successes of this type were probably exaggerated by propaganda and too often Il-2 squadrons were used as expendables... But Il-2s were everywhere, they harassed the enemy constantly, they helped infantrymen to survive and to move forward, etc.

Honoralbe mention:
1. P-40 - for being a gap stopper in certain areas in critical periods.
2. Li-2/PS-84 (licensed C-47) - transport (remember quality of Soviet road network...), night bomber, special missions.
3. Early Yak family - another "gap stopper" and better (compared to other types available) escort fighter which saved lives of many bomber and sturmovik crews.
4. B-25 (probably A-20 as well). - Reliability, protection, range, equipment - all that was much better then what Soviet industry could offer. Safety and comfort for crews and opportunity for engineers and designers to learn a lot of new things - and to implement them in domestic designs later.
5. Yak-9 family. - Many modifications, most numerous fighter type at the end of the war, the only long range fighter (Yak-9D/DD).
6. Last but not the least: three B-29s which landed safely in USSR territory. Test flights and studies of those machines has prepared historical decision to launch Tu-4 project which resurrected heavy bomber force after the war and "revolutionised" USSR air industry.

Note: I did not mention Yak-3, La-7, Tu-2 - they were very good and modern for their time, etc. But they arrived in large numbers after "the turn of the tide" ( to borrow from another thread).

In the first 5 months of 1942 the Hurricane was the most numerous Lend Lease fighter available for air defence on the Eastern Front. It was armed with 2 * 20 mm cannon and 2 * 0.5 in m/c guns or twice the firepower of the Bf 109F. Nobody became an ace flying them unless you add in the shared victories assigned to their pilots. The other fighters the Soviets had were: dwindling numbers of MiG-3's unsuited for combat on the Eastern Front, which had also been taken out of production: poorly built and under performing LaGG-3's; small numbers of Yak-1's; small numbers of P-40's which like the Hurricane was a solid dependable and rugged fighter although only suitable for daylight operations. The Hurricane was the only decent bomber interceptor they had and it had been designed as a day and night interceptor for the RAF. Although the tide didn't turn at either Leningrad or Moscow in the Winter of 1941/42, the German onslaught had been stopped in its tracks and rolled back. The Hurricane continued to serve until 1944 in rear areas for air defence. You could say that the Hurricane was inferior to the Bf 109F, but so were all the others.

Dimlee · Feb 13, 2019

pinehilljoe said:
the Douglas A-20. 3,400, and the 6000 P-39/63, that were sent to the Soviet Union. We don't know what Soviet production actually was, only the narrative the Soviets gave us.

A-20 deserved to be mentioned, of course. I give B-25 slightly higher priority just because B-25, despite relatively low numbers, became the main aircraft in its own segment of long range bombers ("long" in terms of Eastern Front). Il-4 was hopelessly inadequate, Pe-8 have never seen mass production, Yer-2 development went into the dead end.
A-20 excelled in many respects but it mostly complemented other types. Except the Navy aviation, where it was indispensable. Yet naval warfare was of the secondary role for the USSR.

Dimlee · Feb 13, 2019

Kevin J said:
In the first 5 months of 1942 the Hurricane was the most numerous Lend Lease fighter available for air defence on the Eastern Front. It was armed with 2 * 20 mm cannon and 2 * 0.5 in m/c guns or twice the firepower of the Bf 109F. Nobody became an ace flying them unless you add in the shared victories assigned to their pilots. The other fighters the Soviets had were: dwindling numbers of MiG-3's unsuited for combat on the Eastern Front, which had also been taken out of production: poorly built and under performing LaGG-3's; small numbers of Yak-1's; small numbers of P-40's which like the Hurricane was a solid dependable and rugged fighter although only suitable for daylight operations. The Hurricane was the only decent bomber interceptor they had and it had been designed as a day and night interceptor for the RAF. Although the tide didn't turn at either Leningrad or Moscow in the Winter of 1941/42, the German onslaught had been stopped in its tracks and rolled back. The Hurricane continued to serve until 1944 in rear areas for air defence. You could say that the Hurricane was inferior to the Bf 109F, but so were all the others.

Hurricane was numerous, indeed. There were other weapons modifications besides the mentioned. Its service in interceptor role was surprisingly good for the aged aircraft. It has helped VVS in critical period in certain locations, as in Murmansk and in Karelia.
Two main reasons why I omit Hurricane:
- Low serviceability rates. Whole squadrons remained on the ground for weeks.
- Inferior to all enemy fighters from the moment of arrival and to VVS types of 1941 and later.
So, despite the high number supplied, its total impact, in my opinion, was less significant then of P-40.

Kevin J · Feb 13, 2019

Dimlee said:
Hurricane was numerous, indeed. There were other weapons modifications besides the mentioned. Its service in interceptor role was surprisingly good for the aged aircraft. It has helped VVS in critical period in certain locations, as in Murmansk and in Karelia.
Two main reasons why I omit Hurricane:
- Low serviceability rates. Whole squadrons remained on the ground for weeks.
- Inferior to all enemy fighters from the moment of arrival and to VVS types of 1941 and later.
So, despite the high number supplied, its total impact, in my opinion, was less significant then of P-40.

Its significance was that it was there at a critical period, when the quality of Soviet aircraft was an issue, even their numbers as production levels didn't recover till the Spring and the build up of P-40 deliveries hadn't begun. All Soviet fighters then were inferior to their German counterparts, as was the Hurricane.

FLYBOYJ · Feb 13, 2019

IL-2 Hands down!

What was the most important allied aircraft on the eastern front?

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