LAND-LEASE (English lend-lease, from lend - to lend and lease - to lease), the system for the transfer of the United States on loan or lease of military equipment, weapons, ammunition, equipment, strategic raw materials, food, various goods and services to the allied countries of the anti-Hitler coalition during the Second World War. The Lend-Lease Act was passed by the US Congress on March 11, 1941; empowered the President of the United States to transfer, exchange, lease, loan, or otherwise supply war material or military information to the government of any country if "... defense against aggression is vital to the defense of the United States."... Countries that received Lend-Lease assistance signed bilateral agreements with the United States, which stipulated that materials destroyed, lost or consumed during the war were not subject to any payment after the war ended. The materials remaining after the war, suitable for civilian consumption, had to be paid in whole or in part on the basis of long-term American loans, and the US military materials could be claimed back.
Officially, negotiations on Lend-Lease with the USSR began on September 29, 1941. US President Franklin Roosevelt sent his representative Averell Harriman to Moscow. On October 1, 1941, Harriman signed the first protocol on supplies to the Soviet Union in the amount of $ 1 billion for a period of nine months. On November 7, 1941, Roosevelt signed a document on the extension of Lend-Lease to the USSR. The first deliveries to the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease began in October 1941.
An interesting aspect of the supply of aircraft under Lend-Lease was the mass familiarization of Soviet pilots, engineers, and designers with foreign equipment that differed in design concepts, design traditions, and other, often more advanced, technology. All types of machines that entered our country were carefully studied in order to borrow everything new and interesting. Some aircraft were specially ordered in small quantities or single copies for testing.
Working in calmer conditions, the US industry had much more opportunities than the Soviet one. She was less worried about the problem of lack of metal, she had reserve capacities for mastering new types of machines, she could afford more complex and expensive technology.
American engines, weapons, components and assemblies were not used on Soviet aircraft. The only exceptions are the Yak-9DD radio stations and the Bendix wheels, which were supposed to be installed on the Tu-2, but were actually installed by domestic ones. But the supply of raw materials, materials, equipment for our aviation industry and related industries played a large role. The import of aluminum, which began in the spring of 1942 and compensated for the loss of enterprises in the territory occupied by the enemy, should be considered especially significant. Rolled products, alloyed steel, cables, instruments, radio components, photographic equipment and much more were also imported from the USA. The supply of machine tools compensated for the decrease in their production in the USSR - our factories made weapons. The growth rate in the import of machine tools and tools for aircraft factories was much higher than the growth in the supply of aircraft proper. All this largely contributed to the growth of aircraft production in the Soviet Union.
P-39 "Airacobra", on which the Soviet ace Grigory Rechkalov fought.
Considering the history of the Great Patriotic War, Lend-Lease cannot be ignored. Allied assistance was significant, especially in the early years of the war. What kind of aircraft America and Great Britain transferred to the USSR - further in the review.
Fighters
Within the framework of Lend-Lease, a variety of aircraft were supplied to the USSR, but most of all were fighters. At the beginning of the war, the P-40 Tomahawk, Spitfire and, especially, the Hurricane were considered good aircraft with powerful weapons, but they quickly became outdated and could not compete with the main German Messerschmitt fighter.
P-39 "Airacobra" twice Hero of the Soviet Union Sultan Amet-Khan.
Later, fighters of the latest designs were sent to the Soviet Union: P-47 Thunderbolt, P-39 Airacobra, P-63 Kingcobra. “Thunderbolt” is little known in our country, since the plane mainly got into air defense units.
Guards Major A. G. Pronin at his R-39 Airacobra fighter.
But "Airacobra" can be called one of the symbols of Lend-Lease. The best Soviet aces flew on the fighter: Grigory Rechkalov, Alexander Pokryshkin, Nikolai Gulaev, who shot down several dozen Germans each.
Bombers
Soviet aviators at the A-20G Boston aircraft.
Medium American bombers became a serious help for the long-range aviation of the Red Army. The twin-engine A-20 "Boston" and B-25 "Mitchell" fell in love with our pilots, as they were very comfortable to fly, had good instruments and radio communication.
Soviet aviators take the Boston bomber. Airfield Nome, Alaska.
Transport
Douglas twin-engine transport aircraft.
Even before the start of World War II, there were many Douglas DC-3 transport aircraft in the USSR. Passenger and cargo vehicles were even produced in the USSR under the designation Li-2 or PS-84. The plane could carry up to 28 passengers, and quite comfortably.
And during the war years, 707 more copies of the Douglas C-47, the military version of the DC-3, were delivered from America. On one of these machines, on May 9, 1945, the Victory Banner and the Act of Germany's surrender were transported. In the USSR, transport "Douglases" flew until the 1970s.
Seaplanes
The flying boat "Catalina" was used in all the fleets of the USSR.
Before the start of the war, the USSR also assembled under license GST flying boats, built on the model of the American PBU Catalina. Perhaps this is the most famous seaplane of the twentieth century, which was irreplaceable in the navy. These aircraft carried out reconnaissance and rescue missions, observation of the sea, bombing, torpedo attacks.
Today, the development of aviation has made great strides forward.
Hotheads tend to scream hysterically that the Soviet Union could have defeated the Nazis without the help of its Western allies. These statements, at least, can be considered not even populist, but rather marasmic. The thing is that in the first days after the outbreak of hostilities on the Eastern Front, the Soviet Union turned out to be a colossus with feet of clay, and its army collapsed in the very first border battles. The losses in equipment were truly catastrophic - literally in the first weeks of the war, Stalin's vaunted mechanized corps ceased to exist, and aviation with the best "Stalin's falcons" was practically destroyed. The USSR could not make up for the losses either physically or morally, since along with the lost territories, the production power of the Country of Soviets was also lost. It was here that the Western allies came to the aid of the USSR, who in huge quantities supplied equipment, raw materials, uniforms, food, and most importantly - military equipment. Without this help, by the end of the summer of 1943, Stalin could well have defended Vladivostok. Let us dwell in more detail on aircraft supplied by the USA and Great Britain under the Lend-Lease program. The German general Walter Schwabedissen spoke about this quite interestingly. In his book "Stalin's Falcons", he cited analytics based on a large objective material collected by the Luftwaffe intelligence, and also summarized the memories of German pilots who participated in the battles. In particular, he wrote in this regard: “Indirect support in the form of supplies of aviation equipment and equipment was of much greater importance than direct combat cooperation. Initially seen as a temporary measure to alleviate the shortage in military equipment, the assistance program was expanded to compensate for the shortcomings of Soviet production. These supplies helped the Soviet Union to withstand and later go on the offensive. Gradually, the emphasis shifted towards the supply of aviation equipment. Airplanes constituted the most significant part of the assistance programs. Monthly deliveries of cars averaged 150 in 1941, 300 in 1942, from 500 to 600 in 1943 and the first half of 1944, and then dropped to 300 per month. On January 1, 1944, the USSR received from the Western allies about 10 thousand aircraft: 6,000 fighters, 2,600 bombers, 400 transport aircraft and 1,000 training aircraft. Of these, 60% were American-made and 40% British, or more precisely, 6003 aircraft from the United States and 4101 aircraft from Great Britain. By October 1 of the same year, the Russians received about 14,700 aircraft from the Western allies - 8734 American and 6015 British. Of these, 8200 fighters, 3600 bombers, 100 reconnaissance aircraft, 1200 transport and 1600 training aircraft. Delivery losses averaged 20%. ” Bell P-39 Airacobra (Bell P-39 Airacobra) - not entirely successful American fighter, which was almost never used by the US Air Force in World War II, but came to the court in the Red Army, becoming the most massive Lendleigh aircraft. Soviet pilots loved "Airacobras" because of their manufacturability and safety for pilots - their lantern tilted both to the right side and to the left, which doubled the pilot's chance to jump out of the falling car, which was not the case with Soviet aircraft with frequent jamming of the lantern ... Such Soviet aces as Alexander Pokrishkin (since 1942), Amet-Khan Sultan and Grigory Rechkalov fought on "Airacobras". A total of 4952 aircraft of this model were delivered to the USSR under Lend Lease.
Pilots of the 21st Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment at the Krasnoyarsk airfield at the P-39 Aircobra Hawker Hurricane - a British single-seat fighter was somewhat inferior to German aircraft, but for Soviet pilots it was a real find. True, due to the low training of the Soviet flight personnel, the Hurricanes sometimes suffered non-combat losses. Stalin did not like this plane, but Soviet pilots respected it and spoke warmly about it. The Hurricanes mainly defended the northern convoys and fought in the central sectors of the Eastern Front. New modifications of this type delivered to the USSR after 1942 significantly surpassed aircraft of similar classes produced in the USSR, making serious competition for German aircraft. A total of 2,952 aircraft of this type were delivered to the USSR in various modifications, including deck options.
Fighter Hurricane IIA (Eastern Front, winter 1943). Bell P-63 Kingcobra is an American fighter-bomber that has become a continuation and further development of the Bell P-39 Airacobra fighter. He fought on the Eastern Front practically from the beginning of 1944 in all its sectors. Despite some shortcomings in the layout and piloting, the Soviet pilots liked it very much, since it significantly surpassed similar domestic models in a number of parameters. After the end of the war, he was in service with the USSR Air Force for a long time. In total, 2421 vehicles of this type were delivered to the Soviet Union within the framework of Lend Lease.
Soviet and American pilots at the P-63 fighter in Alaska Curtiss P-40 is an American fighter that contributed to the initial period of the war on the Eastern Front (late 1941 - early 1942). It was used mainly near Leningrad and in Karelia as a fighter, attack aircraft and light front-line bomber. Due to the lack of domestic aircraft of this class, it greatly helped Soviet pilots in the most difficult periods of the war, although it was somewhat inferior to German aircraft in maneuverability and firepower. In total, 2,134 aircraft of this type were delivered to the USSR.
Fighter Curtiss P-40 from the 126th IAP, Moscow Region, December 1941 Supermarine Spitfire, a British fighter that made a decisive contribution to the Battle of Britain, arrived in the USSR in 1942 to save Stalin from defeat. "Spitfires" adequately resisted German aircraft in the air battles over the Kuban and Ukraine, and were also part of the naval aviation units in the Baltic and the Arctic Ocean. Used "Spitfires", except as directly fighters, and in the role of light bombers, attack aircraft and even reconnaissance aircraft. In total, 1,338 vehicles of this type were sent to the USSR.
Fighter Spitfire LF.IXE, Eastern Front, spring 1943 Republic P-47 Thunderbolt is an American heavy fighter-bomber. With a shortage of Soviet high-altitude fighters, it came to the court of the "Stalin's falcons" when repelling the attacks of German heavy bomber aircraft on the rear cities. Thunderbolts defended the skies of Yaroslavl, Moscow, Gorky and other industrial centers. In total, according to various sources, from 195 to 203 vehicles of this type were delivered to the USSR.
Republic P-47. Knight of Pythias was the first Thunderbolt to enter the Soviet Union. This aircraft was undergoing evaluation flight tests at LII Douglas A-20 Boston, an American short-range bomber. He began to enter the USSR in 1942. He made a significant contribution to the victory in the Battle of the Kuban. All bomber naval aviation of the Baltic Fleet consisted of aircraft of this type. The Bostons were responsible for all the high-profile victories of the USSR at sea, including the damage to the outdated battleship Schlesien. In the Arctic Ocean, "Bostons" were used as torpedo bombers and reconnaissance aircraft in the search for enemy submarines. There are cases of using this aircraft as a night fighter. In total, according to various sources, from 2,771 to 3,066 vehicles of this type were delivered to the USSR.
The commander assigns a mission to a crew member of the A-20 Boston bomber of the 221st North American B-25 Mitchell, one of the most legendary American medium bombers. It was delivered after 1942 to the USSR, where it did not win any special laurels due to the complexity of repair and maintenance. However, in the central sectors of the front, it was very successfully used near Kiev and for long-range bombing of Budapest and Bucharest. In total, 861 aircraft of this type were delivered to the USSR.
B-25 Mitchell and the flight crew of the 13th GBAP DD Cosolidated PBN-1 Catalina (Consolidated PBY Catalina) - American amphibious aircraft (seaplane), which has become a legend of Soviet naval aviation. It was used very widely in the Northern Fleet, the Baltic and the Black Sea. Due to the lack of similar machines in the USSR, it became the main seaplane of the RKKF. It was used as a reconnaissance aircraft, bomber, transport and ambulance aircraft. A total of 139 aircraft of this type arrived in the USSR.
COSolidated PBN-1 Catalina, Arkhangelsk, 1943 Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is an American military transport aircraft that became a legend of Soviet transport aviation during the Second World War. Closer to 1945, it became almost the main military transport aircraft in the USSR. A total of 707 aircraft of this type were delivered to the Union.
Now, on the eve of the next anniversary of the end of World War II, many hotheads are inclined to shout hysterically that the Soviet Union could have defeated the Nazis without the help of its Western allies. These statements, at least, can be considered not even populist, but rather marasmic. The thing is that in the first days after the outbreak of hostilities on the Eastern Front, the Soviet Union turned out to be a colossus with feet of clay, and its army collapsed in the very first border battles. The losses in equipment were truly catastrophic - literally in the first weeks of the war, Stalin's vaunted mechanized corps ceased to exist, and aviation with the best "Stalin's falcons" was practically destroyed. The USSR could not make up for the losses either physically or morally, since along with the lost territories, the production power of the Country of Soviets was also lost. It was here that the Western allies came to the aid of the USSR, who in huge quantities supplied equipment, raw materials, uniforms, food, and most importantly - military equipment. Without this help, by the end of the summer of 1943, Stalin could well have defended Vladivostok. Let us dwell in more detail on aircraft supplied by the USA and Great Britain under the Lend-Lease program. The German general Walter Schwabedissen spoke about this quite interestingly. In his book "Stalin's Falcons", he cited analytics based on a large objective material collected by the Luftwaffe intelligence, and also summarized the memories of German pilots who participated in the battles. In particular, he wrote in this regard: “Indirect support in the form of supplies of aviation equipment and equipment was of much greater importance than direct combat cooperation. Initially seen as a temporary measure to alleviate the shortage in military equipment, the assistance program was expanded to compensate for the shortcomings of Soviet production. These supplies helped the Soviet Union to withstand and later go on the offensive. Gradually, the emphasis shifted towards the supply of aviation equipment. Airplanes constituted the most significant part of the assistance programs. Monthly deliveries of cars averaged 150 in 1941, 300 in 1942, from 500 to 600 in 1943 and the first half of 1944, and then dropped to 300 per month. On January 1, 1944, the USSR received from the Western Allies about 10 thousand aircraft: 6,000 fighters, 2,600 bombers, 400 transport and 1,000 training aircraft. Of these, 60% were American-made and 40% British, or more precisely, 6003 aircraft from the United States and 4101 aircraft from Great Britain. By October 1 of the same year, the Russians received about 14,700 aircraft from the Western allies - 8734 American and 6015 British. Of these, 8200 fighters, 3600 bombers, 100 reconnaissance aircraft, 1200 transport and 1600 training aircraft. Delivery losses averaged 20%. ” Bell P-39 Airacobra (Bell P-39 Airacobra) - not entirely successful American fighter, which was almost never used by the US Air Force in World War II, but came to the court in the Red Army, becoming the most massive Lendleigh aircraft. Soviet pilots loved "Airacobras" because of their manufacturability and safety for pilots - their lantern tilted both to the right side and to the left, which doubled the pilot's chance to jump out of the falling car, which was not the case with Soviet aircraft with frequent jamming of the lantern ... Such Soviet aces as Alexander Pokrishkin (since 1942), Amet-Khan Sultan and Grigory Rechkalov fought on "Airacobras". A total of 4952 aircraft of this model were delivered to the USSR under Lend Lease. Pilots of the 21st Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment at the Krasnoyarsk airfield at the P-39 Aircobra Hawker Hurricane - a British single-seat fighter was somewhat inferior to German aircraft, but for Soviet pilots it was a real find. True, due to the low training of the Soviet flight personnel, the Hurricanes sometimes suffered non-combat losses. Stalin did not like this plane, but the Soviet pilots respected him. #aircraft #SecondWorld #LandLiz
Humanity has gone through one of the most difficult epochs in its entire existence - the twentieth century. There were quite a few wars in it, but the most difficult test was the Second World War. Until now, there are a huge number of episodes, facts, events and names that no one knows about. And there is a real threat that no one will know about them if eyewitnesses do not tell about it. Among such little-known facts is the American lend-lease to the Soviet Union, during which military equipment, food, equipment, ammunition, and strategic raw materials were supplied to the USSR. For certain political reasons, these deliveries were strictly classified until 1992, and only the direct participants knew about them.
The total amount of lend-lease received by the Soviet Union amounted to about $ 9.8 billion. America's help at that time was truly invaluable, and became one of the decisive factors that contributed to the defeat of the fascist force.
A convoy of American military trucks carrying Lend-Lease to the USSR stands on a road in eastern Iraq
At the same time, the Soviet authorities not only artificially created a negative opinion about American aid, but also kept it in the strictest confidence, and often outlawed all direct participants. But finally, the time has come to dot the i's and find out at least a part of the whole truth about such a fruitful (probably the only one in history) cooperation of the two superpowers.
Both American and Soviet pilots, sailors who took part in ferrying aircraft, transporting and escorting cargo, performed a real feat, circling more than half of the globe, so our generation should not, simply have no right to forget their feat and heroism.
The official start of negotiations on Lend-Lease was laid in the last days of September 1941. A. Harriman, who was specially sent to Moscow by the American president, took part in the negotiations on behalf of the American side. On October 1, 1941, he signed a protocol on supplies to the Soviet Union, the amount of which amounted to $ 1 billion. Delivery time is nine months. But despite this, only at the beginning of November 1941, the American President signed a decree stating that the Lend-Lease Act (the full title of the document is English. "An Act to Promote the Defense of the United States" States "), adopted by the US Congress on 03/11/1941) applies to the Soviet Union.
The first deliveries of weapons and equipment began in October, and by the end of the year 256 aircraft were delivered to the Soviet Union worth 545 thousand dollars. The sum of the entire aviation Lend-Lease during the war years was 3.6 billion dollars. However, from the very beginning, certain difficulties arose with the distillation. It was not possible to achieve a clear organization of supplies. The situation became especially complicated in the winter period, when it became clear that American aircraft were not adapted to the cold: in severe frosts, the rubber of the tires became fragile, the hydraulic system froze. Therefore, it was decided to exchange technologies: the Soviet side shared the technology for the production of frost-resistant rubber, and the American side - hydraulics, frost-resistant.
But people experienced even greater difficulties. During the ferry through the Verkhoyansk ridge, the pilots were forced to climb to a great height (5-6 kilometers) without having oxygen devices. For many, it was beyond their strength, and a large number of aircraft crashed, falling on the rocks. Similar incidents occurred throughout the three years of distillation. In the Russian taiga, wreckage of aircraft with the remains of pilots are still found, and how many have not yet been found. In addition, many planes, along with their crews, simply disappeared.
In total, over the years of the war, more than 14 thousand aircraft were transported from America to the Soviet Union: Bell R-39 Airacobra, Curtiss Kitihawk and Tomahawk, Douglas A-20 Boston, Consolidated PBY Catalina, Republican P-47 Thunderbolt, North American B-25 Mitchell.
Most of these aircraft (about 8 thousand) were flown along the Alaska-Siberia route. The Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane fighters, as well as the Hendley Page Hempden bombers, were supplied to Murmansk from England. Lend-Lease also supplied one of the most little-known aircraft, the Armstrong Albermarl.
The aircraft, which were manufactured in the United States, were ferried by American and Canadian pilots to Alaska, and from there they were ferried to the territory of the Soviet Union by pilots of the Soviet ferry division, which was created specifically for these purposes and consisted of five regiments.
Many of the older generation remember jeeps, airplanes, as well as Studebakers and American stew, which were supplied under Lend-Lease.
In addition to great help in material terms, the American Lend-Lease played a significant role in terms of moral support for the Soviet troops. While at the front, many Soviet soldiers felt more confident when they saw foreign aircraft in the sky supporting them. And the civilian population, seeing that the Americans and the British were helping with resources, understood that this could in many ways help to defeat Nazi Germany.
American aircraft have always been visible on the fronts. They provided support and covered sea convoys with cargo from the air, during the blockade of Leningrad, air defense was carried out by Kitihawk fighters, they carried out bombing of German sea transport in the Gulf of Finland, participated in the liberation of Ukraine and the Kuban.
In addition to aircraft, jeeps were also supplied to the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease, although, according to the Soviet side, they asked for the supply of motorcycle sidecars. However, on the advice of US Secretary of State Edward Stettinius, it was military vehicles that were delivered, since the Americans had a long and very successful experience of using them. The total amount of received jeeps during the war years amounted to 44 thousand units.
In addition, cars of 50 models were received under Lend-Lease, the manufacturers of which were 26 American, British and Canadian firms. Components for them were produced by a significantly larger number of factories.
The largest number of all delivered cars were American trucks US 6 Studebaker and REO - their volume amounted to 152 thousand copies. The total volume of such cars amounted to about 478 thousand units, excluding spare parts (and they would be enough for the assembly of several thousand cars).
Although the documents were signed later, the first sea convoys with Lend-Lease cargo were already sent to the USSR in August 1941. They received the designation PQ (these are the initials of the British naval officer Edwards). Cargoes were delivered to Murmansk, Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk. First, the ships arrived in Reykjavik, where they were formed into caravans of 20 ships, and then, accompanied by guards from warships, they were delivered to the territory of the USSR. But very soon German intelligence received the exact coordinates of the routes of these convoys. Then the losses began. One of the largest losses is an episode that occurred in July 1942, when only 11 out of 36 ships survived, more than 4 hundred, 2 hundred aircraft and 3 thousand cars were at the bottom. In total, during the war, 80 ships were sunk by German submarines and torpedo bombers, even though warships and aircraft were involved in their protection. British and American navies lost 19 warships in the North Atlantic.
Soviet Hurricane Aircraft Testing Brigade. Fighters of this model were supplied to the USSR under Lend-Lease.
It should be noted that in Soviet history there are many dark spots regarding Lend-Lease. It was generally accepted at the time that the Americans were deliberately delaying deliveries while waiting for the Soviet order to collapse. But at the same time, many questions arise: why did the Americans so hastily adopted the law on Lend-Lease and its extension to Soviet territory? Can it be considered an accident that the war "met" the deadline for this law?
Moreover, some researchers put forward the version that American Lend-Lease is the result of the work of Soviet intelligence. There were even rumors that Stalin himself played a big role in signing the Lend-Lease Law - allegedly, in order to prevent the spread of Nazism, he intended to be the first to start a war against Nazi Germany and very much hoped for the help of the West in this war. But these are just rumors, there is no documentary evidence of these theories yet.
In any case, we must pay tribute to Stalin in this matter. He, one might say, proved himself to be practically a genius of diplomacy, wrapping up lend-lease supplies with the benefit of the USSR. When it became known that America and Great Britain expressed their readiness to help the USSR, he first of all mentioned the word "Sell", but pride, or some other motive, did not allow the American or British parties to demand payment. In addition, the Soviet troops very often got the equipment that was originally intended for the British, in particular, the Bantam all-terrain vehicles, of which there were not so many.
Among other things, the Soviet leader did not hesitate to chastise the allies for the fact that the cargo was poorly packed, and also hint that if the Soviet troops could not continue hostilities, the whole burden of the war would fall on the British.
Note that deliveries practically did not stop throughout the war, except once in 1942, when Great Britain was preparing for an operation in Africa, and once in 1943, when it was planned to land allied troops in Italy.
At the end of the war, part of the equipment, according to previous agreements, was returned by the Soviet side to the Allies. But at the same time, there was also a solid debt of the USSR to the United States under Lend-Lease, the remainder of which in the amount of $ 674 million was refused by the Soviet authorities, citing discrimination against the USSR on the part of the Americans in trade. But, already in 1972, an agreement was signed, according to which the USSR agreed to pay the US $ 722 million. The last payment under this agreement was made in 2001.
Thus, the downplaying of the importance of the supply of military equipment, ammunition and food, which was carried out by the American and British allies, was carried out on the basis of the ideological principles of that time. This was done ostensibly in order to assert the postulate that the Soviet war economy has not just great, but simply enormous superiority over the economies of capitalist states, and not only Germany, but also the United States of America and Great Britain.
In contrast to the Soviet point of view, in American historiography, as is almost always the case in the West, the role of Lend-Lease supplies has always been seen as a decisive factor in the USSR's ability to continue waging a war against Nazi Germany.
The American-built Soviet fighter P-39 "Airacobra", supplied to the USSR under the Lend-Lease program, in flight.
But whatever the judgment, it cannot be denied that Lend-Lease provided significant support to the Soviet country in difficult times.
In addition, I must say that on the territory of the former Soviet Union there is practically nothing left that would serve as a reminder of the heroism of our people who ferried American planes, drove and escorted transports, with the exception, perhaps, of three small museums and the remains of planes. At the same time, in Alaska and Canada, a completely opposite picture is observed - memorial plaques and large museums, well-groomed cemeteries. Every year in the cities along which the track passed, celebrations are held in honor of the veterans.
Maybe it's time to think and at least try to change something? After all, this is also part of that war, which we simply have no right to forget.
Soviet pilots receive an American medium bomber A-20 (Douglas A-20 Boston), transferred under Lend-Lease. Airfield Nome, Alaska.
Considering the history of the Great Patriotic War, Lend-Lease cannot be ignored. Allied assistance was significant, especially in the early years of the war. What kind of aircraft America and Great Britain transferred to the USSR - further in the review.
Fighters
Within the framework of Lend-Lease, a variety of aircraft were supplied to the USSR, but most of all were fighters. At the beginning of the war, the P-40 Tomahawk, Spitfire and, especially, the Hurricane were considered good aircraft with powerful weapons, but they quickly became outdated and could not compete with the main German Messerschmitt fighter.
Later, fighters of the latest designs were sent to the Soviet Union: P-47 Thunderbolt, P-39 Airacobra, P-63 Kingcobra. “Thunderbolt” is little known in our country, since the plane mainly got into air defense units.
But "Airacobra" can be called one of the symbols of Lend-Lease. The best Soviet aces flew on the fighter: Grigory Rechkalov, Alexander Pokryshkin, Nikolai Gulaev, who shot down several dozen Germans each.
Bombers
Medium American bombers became a serious help for the long-range aviation of the Red Army. The twin-engine A-20 "Boston" and B-25 "Mitchell" fell in love with our pilots, as they were very comfortable to fly, had good instruments and radio communication.
Transport
Even before the start of World War II, there were many Douglas DC-3 transport aircraft in the USSR. Passenger and cargo vehicles were even produced in the USSR under the designation Li-2 or PS-84. The plane could carry up to 28 passengers, and quite comfortably.
And during the war years, 707 more copies of the Douglas C-47, the military version of the DC-3, were delivered from America. On one of these machines, on May 9, 1945, the Victory Banner and the Act of Germany's surrender were transported. In the USSR, transport "Douglases" flew until the 1970s.
Seaplanes
Before the start of the war, the USSR also assembled under license GST flying boats, built on the model of the American PBU Catalina. Perhaps this is the most famous seaplane of the twentieth century, which was irreplaceable in the navy. These aircraft carried out reconnaissance and rescue missions, observation of the sea, bombing, torpedo attacks.
Today, the development of aviation has made great strides forward. Continuing the theme
