The history surrounding NASM's Il-2 Shturmovik is still cloudy, however new information has come to light and we are optimistic that even more will be forthconing. In order to complete the restoration and finish the aircraft with the appropriate color scheme and markings more information is necessary. What we do know so far is as follows.

Initial information indicate the Shturmovik was shot down in the "spring of 1944" during an "assault of a height located at the frontline in Pskov region." We have now obtained More indepth information and have fixed the date of the shootdown as March 15, 1944. I would iMagine that the term "height" refers to a hill or an area that was higher than the surrounding area. I have also been told that later a MonuMent was put up on the hill stating that a battalion named after Alexander Matrosov (Hero of the Soviet Union) was totally annihilated there. It would Make sense that the Germane would try to take and hold the high ground with their tanks and artillery and that the Soviets would Make great efforts to hold the same area.

The frontline at that time was located 20-25 kM north of crossing of the Leningrad-Kiev and Noscow-Riga roads, in the vicinity of a village called Pustoshka. I have located the village on a map, which is attached to this paper. The hill reportedly changed hands six times during the battle and the Shturmovik apparently attacked the hill alone.

After attacking the German troops on the hill the Shturmovik was hit by German anti-aircraft guns and crashed on the ice of a lake called Kryakovsky. The gunner, identified as Sergeant Goncharov, was killed, either by the anti-aircraft fire or from injuries received in the crash and remained in the aircraft. The pilot, identified as Lieutenant Ivan Maksimovich Andreyev with a date of birth in 1919, was alive and managed to get out of the aircraft.

The Germans sent a sub-unit frau the hill to capture the pilot. When they reached the lake, the plane was sinking through the ice. Our original information indicated that villagers near the crash site informed the Germans that the pilot had died and that the Germans instructed the villagers to bury the pilot. More recently received information has provided the identities of the crew and the fact that they were assigned to the 211th Assault Aircraft RegiMent, 307th Assault Division. The recent information also states that Lieutenant Andreyev was actually taken prisoner and returned to Russia at the end of the war. He received goveriwent awards and decorations.

Approximately five years ago the Il-2 was discovered by a Canadian aircraft broker and was removed from the lake. It was transported to Finland and eventually to an aircraft repair facility in St. Petersburg where the broker had contracted to have it restored. The restoration was accoMplished by Russian aircraft mechanics, some of whom were reportedly former Ilyushin factory workers and had earlier built Shturmoviks. I have been told by separate sources that the repair facility that was used is now a subsidiary of the Sukhoi Design Bureau. The restoration was completed up to the final aircraft finish which was left for NASM to accomplish. The aircraft restoration was done very well and it is finished in primer at this tue.

Obviously we would like to find out all we can about this particular aircraft and its duise. We would also like to know More about the backgrounds of the pilot, Lieutenant Andreyev, and the gunner, Sergeant Goncharov, including whether Lieutenant Andreyev may possibly still be living. Also I would like to obtain the World War II unit histories for the 307th Assault Division and the 211th Assault Aircraft Regiment. This information will be necessary to finish the aircraft with the appropriate Markings and Make display labels that accurately reflect the history of the aircraft.

*This paper is the second in a series on NASM's Ilyushin Il-2M3 Shturmovik. The aircraft background is updated as more information becames available.