Long before any B-17 or B-24 ever appeared over Berlin, the Russians had bombed the German heartland using Ilyushin Il-4 medium bombers. Perhaps overshadowed by other types, the Il-4 helped hold the line during the early days of the war, and was the only real long-range bomber the Soviets had in operation until the Tu-4 showed up in the late 1940s. Squadron/Signal's dean of Soviet aircraft, Hans-Heiri Stapfer tackles the Il-4 in his latest "In Action".
The Il-4 family springs from the TsKB prototype of 1935 - this was clearly recognizable as an Il-4 ancestor, but had an open cockpit and blunter nose without the extensive glazing. There are two prototype photos.
Among the more unusual variants were the solitary DB-3TP floatplane, and Hans has included two photos and a side profile of this aircraft. There are two photos of DB-3T torpedo bombers, and three of a prototype with a large fairing for a heated torpedo bay. A very interesting specimen had a ventral cabin for carrying ten soldiers, and a photograph of this aircraft is included.
Finland operated a small number of DB-3Ms that had been captured by themselves and the Germans. There are five photographs of Finnish aircraft, in addition to a side profile drawing showing the alterations made to the captured aircraft.
The DB-3F introduced the pointed nose with extensive glazing, and the balance of the book deals with models stemming from this aircraft. Notably, there are several pages of images showing walk-around and cockpit/interior details that will be of much interest.
Germany and Finland both possessed captured examples of the later models, and there are two images of German DB-3Fs and five of Finnish aircraft, as well as a scap view showing the Finnish modification to the carburetor air intake.
There are seven images of the Il-4T torpedo bomber, two scrap views showing the Il-4T nose development, three side profile drawing of Soviet torpedoes, and one profile drawing of an AMG-1 sea mine.
The Il-4 also saw use as a transport, hauling outsized loads that the Li-2/C-47 could not accomodate. there are three transport images, two showing a 45mm antitank gun being carried, and the other showing a motorcycle being hauled.
There is a single photograph of the Il-4TK, a greatly altered prototype with a pressurized cabin and turbo-supercharged engines for carrying out reconnaissance and bombing missions above 36,000 feet.
Finally, we get coverage of the Il-6 prototype of 1944, which was really a new aircraft. Problems with the type's diesel engines kept production from going forward. There are three photos and one side profile drawing of the Il-6
There are ten color side views in the center of the book. These include:
DB-3T
"Red 1" torpedo bomber
in light Gray
DB-3M
in Natural Metal
Finnish
DB-3M
Il-4
"Yellow 11"
Il-4
"Red 23" with Dark
Green camo sprayed over Natural Metal
Il-4
"Red 73" in Medium
Green
Il-4
Luftwaffe example with
both Balkenkreuzes and Red stars
Il-4
"Blue 5" with winter
camo
Il-4
"White 78" Medium Green/Dark
Green/Black
Il-4
"White 26" Black/Dark
Green/Medium Green
Other Soviet Aircraft:
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Disclaimer: sample book provided by Squadron/Signal