[ozzymandus]

Perhaps you should mention that the Russians built 50,000 Sturmoviks and the Germans shot down 49,000 of them. It's an impressive plane with an impressive war record, but it's main attribute was it's sheer numbers.

[Saturnalia]

I think your stats are little bit off as only 36,163 Sturmoviks were manufactured.
Still, you are correct as far as the vast numbers shot down.
Il-2 pilots were awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union after only 10 flights, as opposed to the normal 100 for other aircraft.