Uzytkownik "Eunometic" napisal w wiadomosci
ps.com...

Soviet Union

Essential

Illushian Sturmovik, Pekelatov Pe2, Tupolev Tu 4, I-16

Obvious typos: Ilyushin Shturmovik, Petlyakov Pe-2, Tupolev Tu-2 (Tu-4
Bull's first flight: May 1947).

Why do you think I-16 was essential? It was outdated at the time of
'Fall Barbarossa' and suffered great loses (both on the ground and in
combat). Replaced by MiG-3, Yak-1/Yak-3 and Yak-7/Yak-9 series. Yak-3
entered in 1944 was most succesful of all 1/3/7/9 series. Yak-7/Yak-9
being parallel to Yak-1/Yak-3 could be marked 'dispensible'; on the
other hand Yak-9 with 16769 built (all versions, 1942-48) was most
produced Yakovlev's piston fighter.

I would add La-5/La7 series. La-5 (without Gorbunov and Gudkov) entered
production in 1942 and followed by its modification La-7 (1944) was the
best Soviet fighter of WWII.

I would add also Polikarpov Po-2 to the essentials. It was very usefull
in supporting insurgents behind German lines which was more significant
than on any other war theatre.

Missed Ilyushin Il-4, the most important Soviet medium bomber.

Unsure; Yakalove, LaGG, MiG series of fighters seemed to overlap in
function. The MiG 3 only failing to secure production because its
engine was needed.

Typos again: Yakovlev.

Yak fighters belong the essentials IMO. LaGG-1/LaGG-3 (Lavochkin,
Gorbunov & Gudkov) was failure. It was replaced by La-5 (Lavochkin's own
modification of LaGG-3).

MiG-3 was essential at the beginning of German-Soviet war being the only
operational fighter of contemporary design (Yak-1 was not yet
operational and most aircraft were damaged on the ground and abandoned).
It suffered losses due to lack of experienced pilots but the airframe
was comparable to contemporary enemy's fighters. It played great role in
defending Moscow in 1941, Leningrad and Stalingrad. Shifted to the Far
East by 1943, where it saw no action.

--
JasiekS
Warsaw, Poland