Legendary Soviet Trainers and Fighters: The Backbone of WWII Air Combat The Soviet air effort relied on rugged machines like the Polikarpov Po-2 trainer, built in 1928, which reached 94 mph and famously served as a "Night Witch" bomber. For high-speed combat, the Yakovlev Yak-1, introduced in 1940, hit 367 mph, providing the maneuverability needed to challenge the Luftwaffe. Later, the Lavochkin La-7 (1944) reached a blistering 411 mph. These versatile aircraft, produced in tens of thousands, fo