FlyPast – August 2018

GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR TUPOLEV TU-2

H

is freedom depended on

his next creation. Andrey

Nikolayevich Tupolev, that

most famous of Soviet aircraft

designers, had been arrested by the

secret police on October 21, 1937

on trumped-up charges of actions

against the state. The fearsome

Lavrentiy Beria, head of the NKVD

(precursor of the KGB, now the

FSB), told Tupolev that if his Tu-2

was successful, he would be freed.

The 49-year-old began work

in an NKVD detention centre

(a sharashka). The result was a

handsome, streamlined twin-

engined aeroplane – and it proved

to be a winner. Beria kept his word

and Tupolev was released on July

21, 1941 shortly after the beginning

of the Great Patriotic War when

Germany invaded the Soviet Union.

Tu-2s first flew in combat on

September 14, 1942 near Kalinin,

north of Moscow, with the 3rd Air

Army (VA), based at Migalovo.

More than 65 flying hours (25

missions) were staged by three Tu-2s,

manned by crews from the Red

Air Force test facility (NII VVS).

Pilots involved in these operational

trials were Senior Lt Sviridov (7

sorties); Lt Musinsky (7); Captain

Chernyshenko (6); Snr Lt Parshi (3)

and Major Laukhin (2).

The Tupolevs were always

accompanied by a heavy fighter

escort. There were no losses,

although one sustained flak damage

to an engine but was still able to

land safely.

One mission a day, for about 311

miles (500km), was the average.

Bomb loads varied – 2,205lb,

3,307lb or 4,409lb (1,000kg,

1,500kg or 2,000kg).

These sorties showed the Tu-2

compared more than favourably

with the Petlyakov Pe-2 twin-

engined light bomber. The Tupolev

had a much heavier payload, was

faster at low and medium altitudes

and had greater defensive armament.

It was far from perfect, however,

and had problems with its lubrication

and overly complex hydraulic

systems. The big twin also needed

a long runway, up to 3,600ft, when

carrying a load of 4,400lb.

The Pe-2 was considered a better

dive-bomber, due at least partially

to a much better view for the pilot

and navigator while in a dive. Both

aircraft featured dive brakes under

the wings.

BAPTISM OF FIRE

During early combat trials the

Tupolev bomber showed its

capabilities in a raid against a

German installation near Trostin,

where Pe-2s had been unsuccessful.

On September 27, 1942, a trio of

Tu-2s carrying 220lb FAB-100

bombs attacked and destroyed

an underground depot. Despite

opposition from nine Messerschmitt

Bf 109s, they suffered no losses,

benefiting from an escort of ten

Liberty

BomBer

JASON MOORE CHRONICLES TUPOLEV’S ELEGANT TU-2, THE

BOMBER THAT FREED ITS DESIGNER

Above

Early version of a Tu-2,

produced at GAZ.166 in

1942, in characteristic

black/green camoufl age.

MICHAL SEKULA

Right
The only preserved Tu-2 in
Russia is displayed at the
Central Air Force Museum,
Monino, Moscow. Just
visible to the right of the
cowling is the starboard
wing root 20mm weapon.
ALAN WILSONWIKIMEDIA

104 FLYPAST August 2018