COBI Historical Collection POLISH ARMY MUSEUM IL-2M3 Aircraft

One of the most famous combat aircraft of World War II, the IL-2M3 was designed and mass-produced in the USSR starting in 1941. Production of the Il-2 was canceled a few years after the war. In total, about 36,000 of these aircraft were built. The initial versions were replaced in 1943 by two-man IL-2M3 aircraft with more powerful engines and enhanced armament. The most important improvement was the change of the angle of attack of the wings, which were made of duralumin. They gained a very characteristic shape resembling an "arrow". Il-2M3 aircraft were the armament of four Polish air assault regiments fighting in the spring of 1945 on the Eastern Front. On May 1, 1945, there were 158 IL-2M3s in the Polish Air Force. Starting in 1949, the IL-2M3 aircraft began to be gradually withdrawn from service in the Polish Air Force, replacing them with more modern Il-10 attack aircraft. The aircraft exhibited in the museum was used in the 3rd Air Assault Regiment. The IL-M3 aircraft was designe