High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Petlyakov Pe-2 (Russian: Петляков Пе-2, nicknamed Peshka (Пешка - "Pawn"; also a Russian diminutive for "little Pe") was a Soviet dive bomber aircraft used during World War II. It was regarded as one of the best ground attack aircraft of the war and it was extremely successful in the roles of heavy fighter, reconnaissance and night fighter. It was one of the most important aircraft of World War II, being in many respects similar to the British de Havilland Mosquito, though the Pe-2 was manufactured in greater numbers: 11,400 - only the American Lockheed P-38 Lightning twin-engined fighter approached the Pe-2 in production numbers (10,037 aircraft) for numbers of high-speed twin-engined fighter aircraft for the Allies. The Pe-2 was fast, maneuverable and durable. Several Communist nations flew the type after the war, when it became known by the NATO reporting name Buck. Six captured Pe-2s were also transferred from the Germans to the Finnish Air Force during the Continuation War, with the serial code PE- and the unofficial nickname Pekka-Eemeli.