Russia to Reconstruct WWII era Tu-2 Aircraft Lying in US Museum

Russia plans to acquire a World War II era bomber, the Tu-2, lying in a United States museum, reconstruct the aircraft and put it into active service.

"For the first time in the world, a Tu-2 bomber will be reconstructed to its operational condition on the premises of the Novosibirsk State Technical University. The reconstruction work will be carried out by Aviarestavratsiya. This work will take three years," press office of Russia’s Science and Higher Education Ministry announced on Thursday.

The Tupolev Tu-2 bomber was purchased by Wings of Victory Foundation and will be delivered to Novosibirsk State Technical University on August 21-22. The reconstruction will make the twin-engine aircraft the only operational Tu-2 bomber.

The aircraft was in service with the USSR Air Force until 1949, after which it was transferred to China. It served with the Chinese forces until the 1980s and was decommissioned. The plane was then disassembled and delivered to the War Eagles Air Museum in the US.

"This is not a plane that was shot down or was broken. We have not yet studied its series numbers and have not yet tracked its exact history. The plane will be studied and analyzed in detail. Each element will be reconstructed or restored," said Wings of Victory Foundation President Boris Osyatinsky.