Polikarpov Po-2 G-BSSY
How many biplanes can claim a jet fighter among their victims in an air-to-air engagement? The Polikarpov Po-2 can (see below).
Designed as a replacement for the British-designed Avro 504 in Russian training units, it served as a general-purpose Soviet biplane, nicknamed Kukuruznik (from Russian "kukuruza" for maize; thus, "maize duster" or "crop duster"), NATO reporting name Mule.
The reliable, uncomplicated concept of the Po-2's design made it an ideal training aircraft, as well as doubling as a low-cost ground-attack, aerial reconnaissance, psychological warfare and liaison aircraft during war, proved to be one of the most versatile light combat types to be built in the Soviet Union.
As of 1978 it remained in production for a longer period of time than any other Soviet-era aircraft. More than 40,000 Po-2s may have been built between 1928 and 1953, although this total needs confirmation. Low-rate production by small repair shops and air clubs likely continued until 1959.
In WWII, the Po-2 trainer was modified into the U-2 light night bomber. Wehrmacht troops nicknamed it Nähmaschine (sewing machine) for its rattling sound and Finnish troops called it Hermosaha (Nerve saw) as the engine had a very peculiar sound, which was described as nerve-wracking. The material effects of these missions may be regarded as insignificant, but the psychological effect on German troops was much more noticeable. They typically attacked by complete surprise in the dead of night, denying German troops sleep and keeping them constantly on their guard, contributing yet further to the already exceptionally high stress of combat on the Eastern Front. Their usual tactics involved flying only a few metres above the ground, rising for the final approach, cutting off the engine and making a gliding bombing run, leaving the targeted troops with only the eerie whistling of the wind in the wings' bracing-wires as an indication of the impending attack.
The U-2 was known as the aircraft used by the 588th Night Bomber Regiment, an all-women pilot and ground crew outfit. The unit became notorious for daring low-altitude night raids on German rear-area positions. Veteran pilots, Yekaterina Ryabova and Nadezhda Popova on one occasion flew 18 such missions in a single night. The women pilots observed that the enemy suffered a further degree of demoralisation simply due to their antagonists being female. As such, the pilots earned the nickname "Night Witches." The unit earned numerous Hero of the Soviet Union citations and dozens of Order of the Red Banner medals; most surviving pilots had flown nearly 1,000 combat missions each by the end of the war and had taken part in the Battle of Berlin.
North Korean forces used the Po-2 in the Korean War, inflicting serious damage during night raids on Allied bases. At 0300 hours on 28 November 1950, a lone Po-2 attacked Pyongyang airfield in north-western Korea, damaging 11 Mustangs, three so badly that they were destroyed when Pyongyang was abandoned several days later.
On 17 June 1951, at 01:30 hours, Suwon Air Base was bombed by two Po-2s. Each dropped a pair of fragmentation bombs. One hit a motor pool, damaging some equipment, but two bombs burst on the flight-line of the 335th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. One F-86A Sabre was struck on the wing and burned out. Prompt action by personnel who moved aircraft away from the burning Sabre preventing further loss. Yet eight other Sabres had been damaged in the brief attack, four seriously. One F-86 pilot was among the wounded.
UN forces named the Po-2's night-time appearance Bedcheck Charlie and had great difficulty in shooting it down - even though night fighters had radar as standard equipment in the 1950s, the wood-and-fabric-construction of the Po-2 gave only a minimal radar echo, making it hard for an opposing fighter pilot to acquire his target. On 16 June 1953, a USMC AD-4 from VMC-1 piloted by Major George H Linnemeier and CWO Vernon S Kramer shot down a Po-2, the only documented Skyraider air victory of the war.
And that jet fighter mentioned above? Well, one Lockheed F-94 Starfire jet fighter was lost while slowing to 110 mph during an intercept of a Po-2 biplane; maybe not shot down, but I'll bet the Po-2 pilot claimed it. - all details from various Wikipedia pages.
This airworthy example is in a Soviet Air Force colour scheme at the Shuttleworth Collection and is seen at the end of the Collection's 50th Anniversary Air Show at Old Warden Aerodrome in Bedfordshire.
Polikarpov Po-2 G-BSSY
How many biplanes can claim a jet fighter among their victims in an air-to-air engagement? The Polikarpov Po-2 can (see below).
Designed as a replacement for the British-designed Avro 504 in Russian training units, it served as a general-purpose Soviet biplane, nicknamed Kukuruznik (from Russian "kukuruza" for maize; thus, "maize duster" or "crop duster"), NATO reporting name Mule.
The reliable, uncomplicated concept of the Po-2's design made it an ideal training aircraft, as well as doubling as a low-cost ground-attack, aerial reconnaissance, psychological warfare and liaison aircraft during war, proved to be one of the most versatile light combat types to be built in the Soviet Union.
As of 1978 it remained in production for a longer period of time than any other Soviet-era aircraft. More than 40,000 Po-2s may have been built between 1928 and 1953, although this total needs confirmation. Low-rate production by small repair shops and air clubs likely continued until 1959.
In WWII, the Po-2 trainer was modified into the U-2 light night bomber. Wehrmacht troops nicknamed it Nähmaschine (sewing machine) for its rattling sound and Finnish troops called it Hermosaha (Nerve saw) as the engine had a very peculiar sound, which was described as nerve-wracking. The material effects of these missions may be regarded as insignificant, but the psychological effect on German troops was much more noticeable. They typically attacked by complete surprise in the dead of night, denying German troops sleep and keeping them constantly on their guard, contributing yet further to the already exceptionally high stress of combat on the Eastern Front. Their usual tactics involved flying only a few metres above the ground, rising for the final approach, cutting off the engine and making a gliding bombing run, leaving the targeted troops with only the eerie whistling of the wind in the wings' bracing-wires as an indication of the impending attack.
The U-2 was known as the aircraft used by the 588th Night Bomber Regiment, an all-women pilot and ground crew outfit. The unit became notorious for daring low-altitude night raids on German rear-area positions. Veteran pilots, Yekaterina Ryabova and Nadezhda Popova on one occasion flew 18 such missions in a single night. The women pilots observed that the enemy suffered a further degree of demoralisation simply due to their antagonists being female. As such, the pilots earned the nickname "Night Witches." The unit earned numerous Hero of the Soviet Union citations and dozens of Order of the Red Banner medals; most surviving pilots had flown nearly 1,000 combat missions each by the end of the war and had taken part in the Battle of Berlin.
North Korean forces used the Po-2 in the Korean War, inflicting serious damage during night raids on Allied bases. At 0300 hours on 28 November 1950, a lone Po-2 attacked Pyongyang airfield in north-western Korea, damaging 11 Mustangs, three so badly that they were destroyed when Pyongyang was abandoned several days later.
On 17 June 1951, at 01:30 hours, Suwon Air Base was bombed by two Po-2s. Each dropped a pair of fragmentation bombs. One hit a motor pool, damaging some equipment, but two bombs burst on the flight-line of the 335th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. One F-86A Sabre was struck on the wing and burned out. Prompt action by personnel who moved aircraft away from the burning Sabre preventing further loss. Yet eight other Sabres had been damaged in the brief attack, four seriously. One F-86 pilot was among the wounded.
UN forces named the Po-2's night-time appearance Bedcheck Charlie and had great difficulty in shooting it down - even though night fighters had radar as standard equipment in the 1950s, the wood-and-fabric-construction of the Po-2 gave only a minimal radar echo, making it hard for an opposing fighter pilot to acquire his target. On 16 June 1953, a USMC AD-4 from VMC-1 piloted by Major George H Linnemeier and CWO Vernon S Kramer shot down a Po-2, the only documented Skyraider air victory of the war.
And that jet fighter mentioned above? Well, one Lockheed F-94 Starfire jet fighter was lost while slowing to 110 mph during an intercept of a Po-2 biplane; maybe not shot down, but I'll bet the Po-2 pilot claimed it. - all details from various Wikipedia pages.
This airworthy example is in a Soviet Air Force colour scheme at the Shuttleworth Collection and is seen at the end of the Collection's 50th Anniversary Air Show at Old Warden Aerodrome in Bedfordshire.