Aircraft · Soviet Union · 1928-1953
Polikarpov Po-2
night harassment biplane / utility
A slow, fabric-covered biplane trainer pressed into service as a night bomber, the Po-2 flew harassment raids for scores of Soviet night-bomber regiments, the most famous of them the all-woman 588th Night Bomber Regiment, whom the Germans nicknamed the 'Night Witches' for the whistling sound of their idled engines on final approach. Its low speed made it hard for German night fighters to intercept without stalling.
| crew | 1-2 |
|---|---|
| top speed | 150 km/h |
| armament | up to 300kg bombs |
| produced | ~33,000 (all roles) |