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Il-2 "Red 8"
pilot u/k
174 ShAP
ca. Winter 1941-42
Camouflage Colors: AII Green/Black/Blue
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This early Il-2 was photographed in service
with the 174 ShAP in the Leningrad area during the Winter of 1941-42. The pilot
of this aircraft is unknown. Several photographs exist of this Il-2, and "White
19" beside it, and versions of these may be found in Red Stars, the AJ
Press Il-2 Monograph, and In Action No.155.
"Red 8" is an early all-metal single-seat machine
probably manufactured at Zavod 18. It is wearing yet another permutation
of what have come to be known as the rather extravagant early camouflage schemes
applied at this Factory on the Il-2 programme. Indeed, it seems as if the Factory
staff were experimenting with overly complicated patterns, trying to decide
perhaps what benefit might be obtained from them. As with nearly all early Il-2s,
this one is finished in AII lacquers Green and Black over Blue. The pattern
application is quite intricate, including an unprecedented 'eye-hole' feature
on the starboard stabilizer. All of the color demarcations appear to be quite
sharp-edged. The star borders and numeral "8" are trimmed in yellow (as is true
for "White 19" also, providing definitive contrast in these colors).
"Red 8" wears thin yellow bordered type national
insignia in four positions, as shown. The stars on the wing undersurface cannot
be determined, and have been drawn as plain red types. This machine is armed
with eight RO 82 rocket rails, and the port view reveals 23mm VYa-23 cannon
in the wings.
Il-2 "Red 28"
pilot u/k
6 GOShAP
ca. August 1944
Camouflage Colors: AII Green/Brown/Blue
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The often published print of Il-2 "Red 28"
is in fact a still taken from a roll of 16mm movie film. A version of this print
appears in Red Stars. The complete film roll exists within the collection
of the Tsentralniy Dom Aviatsia i Kosmonavtika, Moscow, and bits of this
have been seen in various Discovery Channel programs, such as the "Battlefield"
series and "Wings of the Red Star". The pilot of "28" is recorded in the TsDAK
collection, but alas I cannot seem to find this data in my materials at this
time.
This Il-2 wears an example of what could be
considered to form a whole category of Shturmovik finishes from 1943-45.
Many different specific patterns are known using these AII colors, but the 'style'
and flavor of these are rather similar in many respects. Typically one sees
simplified patterns on both the upper and fuselage sides, and quite often large
areas of the AII Brown color in the vicinity of the crew cabin. The pattern
on "28" is very much indicative of this type of scheme.
"Red 28" is shown in formation with several
similarly colored Il-2s, some of which are swept-wing 'arrows', and others straight-winged
two-seaters as with this one. Although the stars on the fin/rudder and fuselage
sides are beautifully trimmed Kremlin types, there is a conspicuous lack of
other personal or unit markings on these machines, as well as any Guards' emblem.
"Red 28" wears white border Kremlin star national
insignia in four positions, and white bordered star national insignia on the
wing undersurfaces, as shown. The aircraft is armed with four RO 132 rocket
rails.