When the hastily built Lavochkin La5 fighter first soared into the aerial arena in July 1943, German pilots waved it off as inconsequential. They even condescendingly nicknamed it 'Neue Rata,' as if it were just another iteration of the Soviet Union's outdated Polykarpov I16s that saw action in the Spanish Civil War.

Within 24 hours, that complacency was shattered. The Luftwaffe pilots quickly gained a newfound respect—and a touch of fear—for the La5.

Against a crumbling Eastern Front, the hastily built Lavochkin La5 fighter emerged as more than a quick fix; it was a pivotal force that swung the air war in favor of the Red Air Force.

Above the tanklined fields and smokefilled air, the battle for aerial supremacy over Kursk delivered a stern warning: underestimate the La5 at your own peril.



Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, topsecret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.

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