Customer Reviews

Red Wings over the Yalu: China, the Soviet Union, and the Air War in Korea (Williams-Ford Texas A&M University Military History Series)

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Red Wings Over The Yalu: China, The Soviet Union, And The Air War In Korea by military historian Xiaoming Zhang (Texas A&M International University) is an informed and informative survey and analysis of the military history and international politics of the Korean War. Focusing in particular on the Chinese point of view, Red Wings Over The Yalu is extensively detailed in its presentation and enhanced with black-and-white photographs of Chinese military aircraft and the men who flew them. An invaluable contribution to Korean War military history reference shelves and reading lists, Red Wings Over The Yalu is a seminal and highly recommended addition to any personal or academic Military History reference collection.

This book is a perfect example of a well written academic work. 'Red Wings' is thoroughly researched and makes good use of newly declassified Russian and Chinese sources. It challenges many widely held views of the air war over Korea, and provides the reader with previously unavailable information regarding the strategy, doctrine and tactics of the 'other side' at the time. Moreover, 'Red Wings' offers insight as to the lessons that the PLAAF took away from the Korean War, and how it affects that service today.

A fine addition to any scholar, Air Force member or aviation enthusiast's bookshelf.

This is not a book about tactical air operations in Korea, so don't expect to find classical accounts of duels between the comabttants. What it does cover is the organistion of Chinese air forces and the role played by the Soviets (plus the hosts in Korea) to expedite the creation and preservation of the Chinee air force.

There is lots of material drawn from sources hitherto unavailable, and a coherent story of the development of the air force. It gives a good account of the discussions between Moscow and Beijing in how the response to UN air power in Korea was to be tackled, and the tensions between the needs of the ground forces, the limited air bases, and the need to improve the skills of the Chinese pilots before exposing them to the UN's skilled pilots.

There are some accounts of action, and some interesting discussion on how badly wrong the historically-accepted kill ratios likely are.

So, good if you want a history of the development of the Chinese air force in this period; to be avoided if you want a view from the other side of the hill in regard to the detailed action in the skies.

Iam a American Historian. I like introduce a Korean military aviation
Researcher,Young Ki Moon, Seoul, Korea.
I am a most important supplier of his requesting books and DVD,after
meticulous frequent searching Amazon.
Occasionally, he sent me many valuable Reviews after reading books.
Now,I introduce a review on this book as following:
I keep this book,as a Text Book,by admiring auther,as my emotionally attached books in my personal study-Library.
After Soviet president Boris Yelyin addressed " He will send back home,
if any enforced Americans live in Soviet now" on US congress,1992.
President yeltsin sent some secret documents on Korean War to
korean President. Also,I had a chance to see the Soviet government-run,
"Ren TV"'s documentary which handled Korean War.Soviet already planned
involving MIG-15 and mechanized AAA groups near MIG ALLEY and safty
far north of North Korea.
I like add additional informations of Kill Ratio between F-86 and MIG-15
which was meticulosy surveyed by Xiaming Zhang.
According to his study,US claimed,MIG-15 vs F-86 Kill Ratio ranged from
8:1~10:1 during war which reccently,after the war and disclosed many
Soviet documents,revised kill ratio downward to 2:1 for all UN losses.
an air-to-air kill:loss ratio dropped 10:1 afterthe war now appears
closer to 2:1.(MIG-15:F-86 kill ratio close to 3.5:1,with 1:1 ratio
being conceivable if F-80 and F-84 included.)(quoted from Osprey series:
Korean War Aces)
Some Soviet flyer even claimed reversed victory of MIG-15 over F-86
as 1:2 !
In this book,Soviet pilot Abakumov claimed a F-86 was forced down to
clashland near Pyongyang and pilot was taken prisoner.
Soviet MIG-15 pilot Col.Orlov disclosed t5he fact that shot down a
F-86E with small damage which sent to Moskow for it's restoeation. pilot fled back to UN foce.Russian want capture of F-86 for the explor the
anatomy power of F-86 including western technology.
US also,desparately wanted MIG-15 like Sovient wanted F-86.
In Sept,1953, after the armistice, a North Korean,Senior Lt.
Kum Suk No,fled to South Korea with his MIG-15bis(he received $100,000
reward as US proposed) all tests of captured MIG-15bis were performed by
Capt.Collins and Maj.Chuck Yeager at Okinawa Air Base.