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 neededa 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 tenLiberty
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 SEKULARight
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