Aircraft · Soviet Union · 1941-1945
Petlyakov Pe-2
dive bomber
Originally designed as a high-altitude heavy fighter, the Pe-2 was hastily reworked into a twin-engine dive bomber and became the Red Army's standard light bomber, fast enough to outrun many contemporary fighters. Vladimir Petlyakov, its designer, was killed in a 1942 crash and never saw how thoroughly his aircraft would be produced, with over 11,000 built.
| crew | 3 |
|---|---|
| top speed | 580 km/h |
| armament | up to 1,000kg bombs, defensive machine guns |
| produced | ~11,400 |