[Olympus PEN E-PL2 + M.Zuico 14-42mm]

Museum Wojska Polskiego in Warsaw. [Nikon D300 + Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm/2,8G VR]

Incredibly this 1942 built Soviet Air Force Sturmovik remains registered but with a no flight declaration made in 2015. It is in open storage between two hangars

Engine section of an unknown Soviet Air Force Ilyushin 2.

This Il-2 Shturmovik hulk was photographed in the workshop/restoration area of the Monino musem near Moscow and, hopefully, about to be restored to its former glory. If anyone knows more about the provenance of this aircraft, then I'd be interested to hear.

This Il-2 (serial?) was built in April, 1944 at Zavod 1. On 14th Dec. 1944, piloted by Lt. Timofeyev with gunner S.Mjr. Udalov, it took-off from Szabadszállás, along with other Il-2s from 715 ShAP, to attack German vehicles on the shore of Lake Balaton. It was hit by anti-aircraft fire and ditched in the lake, from which the crew apparently survived but were lost in the cold water and their bodies never recovered (RIP). The wreckage was retrieved in 1999 and is now on display at the super RepTár Szolnoki Repülőmúzeum.

This shelter at the Finow Luftfahrtmuseum was full of various aircraft miscellany collected from sites around Brandenburg. This Il-2 hulk remains unidentified as the accompanying info boards refer only to the Mikulin engine and a short history of the type.

This aircraft is on display at the Military Museum close to the centre of Warsaw. No serial or codes are carried. Whilst these Sturmoviks were built in vast numbers, very few still exist and it is a pity that this aircraft has been allowed to deteriorate on open air display.

The Flying Heritage Collection's beautifully restored Il-2 is pictured enjoying some downtime. Note even the oil buckets are in pristine condition at the FHC!!

Original Il-2 Shturmovik exhibited in WW2 Soviet AF markings

Russia's principal aircraft of World War II. Note that this is a single-seat Il-2, as built in 1941-42. After terrible losses, the rear gunner made a comeback, but only in a makeshift position outside the aircraft's armoured shell. This aircraft was rebuilt from a wreck.

This Il-2 was shot down into Lake Balaton towards the end of WWII.

With the exception of the Cessna 172, the Il-2 "flying tank" is the most produced aircraft in history, with 36,163 built. Despite this, only about eight examples survive worldwide. In the immediate post-war years, the Il-2 formed the backbone of the fledgling JRV (Yugoslav AF), with about 300 operated. As the rear fuselage and tail surfaces were made from wood, the Ikarus aircraft factory in Yugoslavia manufactured metal replacements to increase service life, the last Il-2s flying till 1955