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Polikarpov I-16 Rata fighters
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Polikarpov I-16 Rata fighters
Polikarpov I-16 Rata fighters, in a scrap dump captured by German forces. Date: 1941
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Media ID 32266574
© The Peter Butt Aviation Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library
1941 Captured Dump Fighters Flght Forces Rata Scrap Polikarpov
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This evocative photograph captures the stark reality of the Battle of the Eastern Front during World War II, as a group of Polikarpov I-16 Rata fighters lie abandoned in a scrap dump, having been captured by advancing German forces in 1941. The I-16, a Soviet single-engine, single-seat fighter aircraft, was a formidable adversary during the early years of the conflict. Its distinctive gull-wing design and powerful air-cooled engine made it a popular choice among Soviet pilots, who used it to great effect against the invading German forces. But the tide of war was turning, and the I-16, while still effective, was beginning to be outmatched by newer German aircraft. In this image, we see the remnants of these once proud and powerful machines, now reduced to rusting hulks in a desolate scrap yard. The scene is a poignant reminder of the brutal and relentless nature of war, as once-valuable military assets are rendered useless and discarded. The photograph is part of The Peter Butt Aviation Collection from Mary Evans Prints Online, a vast archive of historical aviation imagery. The collection spans the entire history of flight, from early experiments with powered flight to the jet age and beyond. This image, with its haunting depiction of the I-16 Rata fighters, offers a glimpse into a pivotal moment in aviation history and the human cost of war.
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