The Soviet Strategic Bombers From Long-Range The Petlyakov Pe-8, first flown in 1936, was the Soviet Union's only four-engine heavy strategic bomber produced during WWII. Reaching a top speed of 270 mph, it was designed for high-altitude long-range missions, famously bombing Berlin as early as August 1941. It featured a massive bomb load capacity of up to 11,000 lbs and was defended by heavy cannons. While only 93 were built, the Pe-8 proved the USSR’s capability for strategic strikes and remain

Welcome to another episode of Warbird Wednesday! The Petlyakov Pe-2; NATO reporting name: Buck was a Soviet twin-engine dive bomber used during World War II. One of the outstanding tactical attack aircraft of the war, it also proved successful as a heavy fighter, as a night fighter (Pe-3 variant) and as a reconnaissance aircraft. The Pe-2 was, numerically, the most important Soviet bomber of World War II, at their peak comprising 75% of the Soviet twin-engine bomber force. The Soviets manufactur