WWII Attack Plane Rolls Off at Tacoma

A rare World War II Russian attack plane rolled off Wallenius Wilhelmsen's Morning Composer Thursday at the Port of Tacoma in Washington state.

The plane's fuselage and wings were transported on separate cargo trailers aboard the Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics' Morning Composer, a Panama flagged, 6,500-deadweight-ton ro-ro vessel. The plane flew to an airport near St. Petersburg late last year to be dismantled for shipment to Tacoma via Bremerhaven.

The "Shturmovik," will head by truck early next week to join the Flying Heritage Collection at Paine Field in Everett, Wash. The aircraft is the only one of its type in flying condition, according to a statement from the port.

This specific plane is made from parts discovered at a number of aircraft wrecks in the northwest regions of the former Soviet Union.

The plane will be re-assembled at Paine Field and put on display as part of a private collection owned by philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen. 

Photo courtesy of the Port of Tacoma.