pre ww11 russian bomber

[Fredtheobviouspseudonym]

its a sight to see either coming inor taking off.

I recall reading a book about "The battle of Kursk", the soviets had a armored cargo plane that got jumped by nazi fighters, they expended all ammo without downing the Soviet.
The parting group commanders' comment was something about trying to bite a porcupine is rear.

It was a Sturmovik IL-2 ground attack plane.

Heavy armor around the engine, gas tanks, and pilot's seat.

The tail gunner was on his own (and they died like flies.)

The Soviets built 37,000 of them; but they were destroyed so often despite the armor that the largest number they ever had at one time was 12,000.

I'd guess that they lost a lot of them to accidents; heavy aircraft + badly-trained pilots = oops.

Nonetheless they put a pile of hurt on the Nazis. Carried 2 cannon -- 20 mm, 23 mm, or 37 mm. Hit the German tanks in the roof where the armor wasn't so thick. Carried eight rockets and a pile of small bomblets -- would fly over the enemy and drop them to fire a shaped charge through the tank roofs.

Normal attacking height was 20 feet. Yes, feet.

I'm no fan of the Communists by any stretch but a lot of gutsy young men and women (in Sov Russia they did use women for combat pilots some) died to stop Adolf.