Proving to be successful, it remained in service for a number of years post-war in both civilian and military roles in the Soviet Union, and with the air forces of several allied nations.

The German invasion of the USSR revealed that there was an urgent requirement for a light transport and utility aircraft for use by the Soviet Air Force at the front.

[2] A cabin monoplane of semi-cantilever, high-wing configuration, the TS-1 was designed to minimise the use of strategic materials, utilising mostly wood in the construction of its remarkably streamlined airframe, and being powered by two readily available Shvetsov M-11 radial engines.

[2] Test-flown in late 1942 and early 1943, the aircraft, by now having been redesignated Shche-2,[2] proved to be capable of meeting the requirement, and production began in October 1943[2] at OKB-47, the bureaux being established at Chkalov (Orenburg)[4] for use by Yakovlev, but being transferred to Shcherbakov's control for the manufacture of his type.

[1] Proving in service to be underpowered yet still easy to fly,[2] and establishing a reputation for reliability and ease of maintenance,[1] the Shche-2 was widely used by Soviet forces during the war.