Pe 2 «HD 2025»

: Squadrons of women pilots, such as those led by Maria Dolina, famously flew the Pe-2 in critical battles like the liberation of Borisov. Legacy of the Peshka Pe-2 Peshka Dive Bomber | World War II Database

: Its handling allowed pilots to be exceptionally accurate, with some famously able to "plant a bomb down a chimney stack". : Squadrons of women pilots, such as those

The aircraft was a technical marvel for its time, featuring a pressurized cabin and all-metal construction. However, after witnessing the terrifying effectiveness of German "Stuka" dive bombers during the invasion of France in 1940, Stalin personally ordered Petlyakov to scrap the fighter and redesign it as a —and he gave him just 45 days to do it. A Masterpiece Under Pressure : Squadrons of women pilots

The Pe-2 entered service in 1941 and quickly became the backbone of the Soviet Air Force. It was incredibly versatile: : Squadrons of women pilots, such as those