Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. polikarpov Despite being the world’s largest air force, the Soviet Air Force (Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily or VVS) was caught on the back foot by the German invasion on 22 June 1941.

The aircraft was on standby inside a hardened shelter when its ejection system was activated, rocketing the pilot and weapon systems officer into the bunker’s roof, according to the Telegram channel Fighterbomber, a pro-Russian military blogger.