BATTLE OF STALINGRAD • BATTLE OF MOSCOW

AIRCRAFT IDENTIFICATION GUIDE

WORK IN PROGRESS
TABLE OF CONTENTS

RUSSIA GERMANY
IL-2 MODEL 1941 4 BF 109E7 16
IL-2 MODEL 1942 5 BF 109F2 17
YAK-1 S. 69 6 BF 109F4 18
I-16 TYPE 24 7 BF 109G2 19
LA-5 S. 8 8
P-40E-19
LAGG-3 S. 29 10
MIG-311
PE-2 S. 35 12
PE-2 S. 87 13
PE-2 S. 110 14

CREDIT
Finkeren
Original aircraft identification text and graphics Version 4 - April 2018
RUSSIA
 IL-2 MODEL 1941

WITH VYA-23

WITH VYA-23

CHARACTERISTICS
NOTE
• Large, back swept wings with asymmetrical tips Possible confusion with other IL-2s, note the larger glazing on rear
• Large landing gear bulges under wings cockpit (ShVak only), balancing horns on ailerons, skids beneath the
wings near the tips, lack of cylindrical intake filter at right wing root,
• Deep, square radiator below fuselage
pitot tube on each wing near tip.
• Raised cockpit section
• Large tail section with tapering surfaces
• Locked down tail wheel
• Pointy spinner

IL-2 STURMOVIK - AIRCRAFT IDENTIFICATION GUIDE 4

 IL-2 MODEL 1942

WITHOUT REAR GUNNER

CHARACTERISTICS
NOTE
• Large, back swept wings with asymmetrical tips Possible confusion with Il-2s, note the rear gunner position (with field
• Large landing gear bulges under wings mods), lack of balancing horns on ailerons and skids beneath the
wings near the tips and cylindrical intake filter at right wing root. Pitot
• Deep, square radiator below central fuselage
tube on right wing only.
• Raised cockpit section
• Large tail section with tapering surfaces
• Locked down tail wheel
• Pointy spinner

IL-2 STURMOVIK - AIRCRAFT IDENTIFICATION GUIDE 5

 YAK-1 S. 69

CHARACTERISTICS
NOTE
• Thin wings with slight dihedral Possible confusion with LaGG-3, note the more sharply pointed
• Wings taper almost evenly from leading and trailing edge wings, deeper chin radiator “hump” behind the cockpit, more
to a distinct point slender fuselage, square ventral radiator, differently shaped tail fin,
pitot tube on left wing instead of right.
• Relatively pointy spinner
• Shallow, square radiator below central fuselage near
trailing edge of the wing
• Deep, rounded chin radiator
• Vertical tail surface appears to “lean forward” rather than
being swept back
• Slight “hump” on upper rear fuselage right behind the
cockpit
• Locked down tail wheel

IL-2 STURMOVIK - AIRCRAFT IDENTIFICATION GUIDE 6

 I-16 TYPE 24

CHARACTERISTICS
• Extremely compact, short and barrel-like airframe
• Open cockpit
• Flat, Circular front cowling with large bowl-shaped spinner
• Large tail fin
• Uniquely shaped “whale flipper” like horizontal tail section
• Short, stubby wings that flare out backwards in towards
the fuselage.
• Fixed tail wheel
• Extremely short distance between cockpit and tail fin

IL-2 STURMOVIK - AIRCRAFT IDENTIFICATION GUIDE 7

 LA-5 S. 8

CHARACTERISTICS
NOTE A
• Distinct rounded “radial engine” cowling and short, Possible confusion with LaGG-3, note the broad round radial
stubby spinner cowling, square chin radiator, retractable tail wheel, open cowl flaps,
• Almost no dihedral on wings lack of ventral radiator on lower fuselage.

• Tapered wings with uneven taper on leading and trailing

edge and asymmetric wing tip
NOTE B
• Small, square oil radiator under lower cowling
Possible confusion with Fw 190, note the different shape of cockpit
• Broad, square cowling flaps with notable bulge visible on and upper rear fuselage, tapering pointy wings and horizontal
both sides of cowling when open stabilizers, shape of tail fin, chin radiator, upward curving lower
• Distinctly shaped, very low tail fin with sharply back swept fuselage.
leading edge
• Very clean and evenly curved shape of lower fuselage
• Air intake on upper cowling create a distinct “hump”

IL-2 STURMOVIK - AIRCRAFT IDENTIFICATION GUIDE 8

 P-40E-1

CHARACTERISTICS
NOTE A
• Very large and deep chin radiator that starts almost right Possible confusion with Bf 109, note the larger tail fin, broad forward
behind the spinner swept wings, large chin radiator, landing gear bulges and pointy
• Large and pointy spinner spinner.

• Slightly forward-swept wings with significant dihedral and

asymmetrical tips
NOTE B
• Large “greenhouse” canopy with sharply sloping
Possible confusion with LaGG-3, note the larger tail section, large
windscreen
chin radiator, retractable tail wheel and landing gear bulges.
• Landing gear bulges notable on underside of wings very
close to fuselage
• Large size of tail section
• Large radiator outlet under cowling opening in prominent
fan-shape

IL-2 STURMOVIK - AIRCRAFT IDENTIFICATION GUIDE 9

 LAGG-3 S. 29

CHARACTERISTICS
NOTE A
• Rounded spinner Possible confusion with Yak-1, note the broader, more rounded
• Upper and lower cowling curves softly towards the spinner shape of cowling and spinner, distinct tail fin, lack of protruding chin
giving a stubby look to the nose radiator, shape and thickness of wing tips, overall “heftier” look.

• Shallow ventral radiator with curved shape that connects

seamlessly with fuselage
NOTE B
• Almost no dihedral on wings
Possible confusion with P-40, note the lack of chin radiator, rounded
• Tapered wings with uneven taper on leading and trailing spinner, lack of landing gear bulges on the wings, lower tail fin,
edge and asymmetric wing tip smaller dihedral on wings.
• Cowling significantly broader and more massive than rear
fuselage
• Locked down tail wheel
• Distinctly shaped, very low tail fin with sharply back swept
leading edge

IL-2 STURMOVIK - AIRCRAFT IDENTIFICATION GUIDE 10

 MIG-3

CHARACTERISTICS
NOTE A
• Very short rear fuselage Possible confusion with Bf 109, note the shorter fuselage, single
• Long pointed nose ventral radiator, wing shape and shape of tail surfaces.

• Deep, square radiator below central fuselage

• Extreme rearward placement of cockpit
NOTE B
• Oil radiators protruding on both sides of cowling Possible confusion with P-40, note the shape and placement of
cockpit and lack of chin radiator, lack of landing gear bulges on the
• Slight “inverted gull wing” with no dihedral on inner
section wings.

IL-2 STURMOVIK - AIRCRAFT IDENTIFICATION GUIDE 11

 PE-2 S. 35

OPEN GUNNER POSITION

CHARACTERISTICS
NOTE A
• Wings tapering outboard of engines, rounded wing tip Possible confusion with Bf 110, note the long engine nacelles that
• Raised canopy placed far forward with glazed rear part don’t protrude above the wing, rounded wing tips, shape and
placement of canopy and glazing on underside of nose.
• Engine nacelles long and deep
• Twin Tail Fin
• Glazing under nose and tip of nose NOTE B
Possible confusion with other Pe-2s, note the lack of protrusions
• Broad horizontal tail section with taper on leading edge
under nose, longer glazing on rear cockpit, bigger area of glazing
under nose, and pointy spinners with starter tooth.

IL-2 STURMOVIK - AIRCRAFT IDENTIFICATION GUIDE 12

 PE-2 S. 87

CHARACTERISTICS
NOTE A
• Wings tapering outboard of engines, rounded wing tip Possible confusion with Bf 110, note the long engine nacelles that
• Raised canopy placed far forward don’t protrude above the wing, rounded wing tips, shape and
placement of canopy glazing on underside of nose.
• Engine nacelles long and deep
• Twin tail fin
• Bomb sight bay protrudes below cockpit NOTE B
Possible confusion with other Pe2s, note the protruding bomb sight
• Broad horizontal tail section with taper on leading edge
under nose, lack of cover on rear gunner position, limited glazing
under nose (s.35), position of radio mast (s.35).

IL-2 STURMOVIK - AIRCRAFT IDENTIFICATION GUIDE 13

 PE-2 S. 110

CHARACTERISTICS
NOTE A
• Wings tapering outboard of engines, rounded wing tips Possible confusion with Bf 110, note the long engine nacelles that
• Raised canopy placed far forward don’t protrude above the wing, rounded wing tips, shape and
placement of canopy and glazing on underside of nose.
• Engine nacelles long and deep
• Twin tail fin
• Loop antenna below nose NOTE B
Possible confusion with Pe-2s, note the loop antenna under the
• Broad horizontal tail section with taper on leading edge
nose, turret gunner position with stabilizing wings, limited glazing
under nose (s.35) and position of radio mast (s.35)

IL-2 STURMOVIK - AIRCRAFT IDENTIFICATION GUIDE 14

GERMANY
 BF 109E7

CHARACTERISTICS
NOTE A
• Long, narrow rear fuselage Possible confusion with Mig-3, note the long fuselage, small low tail
• Tapering squared off wings fin, placement of cockpit. Lack of central ventral radiator and squared
off wings.
• Small size of tail section with braced horizontal stabilizer
• Twin radiators under inner wing sections
• Locked down tail wheel NOTE B
Possible confusion with other Bf 109s, note the angular shape of the
• Supercharger intake on left side of cowling
nose, braced tail plane, locked down tail wheel square wing tips,
pitot tube mounted under left wing, wing guns and deep, narrow
under wing radiators.

IL-2 STURMOVIK - AIRCRAFT IDENTIFICATION GUIDE 16

 BF 109F2

CHARACTERISTICS
NOTE A
• Long narrow rear fuselage Possible confusion with MiG-3, note the long fuselage small low tail
• Tapering wings with rounded tips fin, placement of cockpit and lack of central ventral radiator.

• Small size of tail section

• Twin radiators under inner wing sections
NOTE B
• Rounded nose Possible confusion with other Bf 109s (Almost indistinguishable from
Bf 109F4 apart from smaller supercharger intake).
• Supercharger intake on left side of cowling

IL-2 STURMOVIK - AIRCRAFT IDENTIFICATION GUIDE 17

 BF 109F4

CHARACTERISTICS
NOTE A
• Long, narrow rear fuselage Possible confusion with Mig-3, note the long fuselage, small low tail
• Tapering wings with rounded tips fin, placement of cockpit. Lack of central ventral radiator.

• Small size of tail section

• Twin radiators under inner wing sections
NOTE B
• Rounded nose Possible confusion with other Bf 109s (almost indistinguishable from
Bf 109F2 apart from larger supercharger intake).
• Supercharger intake on left side of cowling

IL-2 STURMOVIK - AIRCRAFT IDENTIFICATION GUIDE 18

 BF 109G2

CHARACTERISTICS
NOTE A
• Long, narrow rear fuselage Possible confusion with Mig-3, note the long fuselage, small, low tail
• Tapering wings with rounded tips fin, placement of cockpit and lack of central ventral radiator.

• Small size of tail section

• Twin radiators under inner wing sections
NOTE B
• Rounded nose Possible confusion with other Bf 109s, note the unbraced tail plane,

• Supercharger intake on left side cowling retractable tail wheel, rounded wing tips, deeper oil cooler, round
supercharger intake, shallow, broad under wing radiators and heavy
framed canopy.

IL-2 STURMOVIK - AIRCRAFT IDENTIFICATION GUIDE 19