Customer Reviews

Soviet Aces of World War 2 (Osprey Aircraft of the Aces No 15)

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Expect excellence from Osprey's "Aircraft of the ACEs" series. This one, #15, is no exception. A brief history of the V-VS preceeds the chronicle of its record, from battle to battle, during the War. After the massive losses of Barbarossa, the Red air force very gradually, and at great cost, achieved air superiority. The progression of improvements in tactics is covered quite nicely in the text. The book contains many rare action photos from Soviet and German military archive, descriptions of all the fighter aircraft in the Soviet inventory, bios of the ACEs, color plates of uniforms and individual pilots' aircraft, reproductions of propaganda posters, and plenty of lists and stats. In addition is information about the famous "Free French" Normandie Niemen regiment and Polish, Czech, Romanian and Yugoslav divisions; female regiments and women ACEs; "suicide" (taran) rammers; and "legless wonders" -- amputees who returned to the front and flew with artificial limbs. Readers of this book will also appreciate Osprey #6,"Fw 190 ACEs of the Russian Front" and Time-Life's out-of-print (Epic of Flight) "The Soviet Air Force at War".

I was pleasantly surprised as to the information contained in this small, but compact, volume. On the areas that I had expertise in, I found the writers to be highly accurate. At first, I thought that the book would be another one of those flashy paperbacks with no substance or depth. I learned a lot about the Aces, the aircraft, the techniques, and the capabilities of the Soviet Airmen and Airwomen. I will now, (in fact I already have), buy more in this informative series. (I wish that the publisher would come out with a volume on Italian WWII Aces and Spanish Civil War Aces...if they do, I'm buying them)

Hugh Morgan does a fine job of bringing these heretofore unknown pilots to life, considering the limited research material that he had to work with. What makes this volume interesting to me is that it goes into more detail than other volumes about the different Soviet aircraft which were flown. It's very easy to assume that all they had were MiGs and YaKs! Mr. Morgan clears that issue up very nicely. This book is well worth buying.

Easy expression of Russian's Idea and criteria of
"Fighter Ace"by Osprey Series Book by Hugh Morgan !

Iam a American Historian. I like introduce a Amateur Military Aviation Researcher,
Seoul,Korea. Dr.Young Ki MOON.
i havve been think about definition,critera and natuure of "Air Ace"1
I know, Problem solving "Air Ace" is one of the difficult problem like "Killing Ratio"!.
Most of all, I like express my Review on this Book.
Russian's idea on "Air Ace"are based on encouurage of National Patriotism and association
with practical expansion of accumulation of interest and practical invovments of Aviation
Activity. Top aces like Pokryshkin, Rechkalov and Kozhedub become famous talented peoples
and National hero. Government also offer many practical advanges including Properties.
This book represented Russian's criteria and natures with simple explanatios.
For improvement of Raising "Air Aces" are evolution and development of new, advanced,
Revolutional Fighters, improved new Tactics and well trained courageous skillful,Patriotic
Fighters who also familiar with Team Work.
MIG-3:This only be used for high altitude rrconnaissance airplane whih can not be matched with
german Bf-109,and Fw-190.
Yak-1 & 3: useful Yak-3 independently developed from Yak-1.
YaK-1-->yaK-1B-->YaK-7--.>YaK-7-37(from 20mm to 37mm Cannon)-->YaK-9T--YaK-9D(longer distance)
-->YaK-9DD(longest distance)
LaGG-3: only Air-cooling inlined engine equppied . Germany incopetend,fighters with
many engine troubles.
La-5N :Revised with ASh-82FN Air-Cooling enginned good fighter. speed became 385mph,
became better horizontal and vertical maneuver,good operational altitude,
better tight turn made superior ability of "Dogfight" with German Bf-109 and Fw-190 !
La-5-M-71 reached 421mph ! with 3-Berzen B-20-20mm Cannon.
*****Lend-Leased US.Bell P-39 Airacobra :This Fighter was classified as funny designed, obsolute
Fighter US even competent Japanese.Although,USSR pick up this bad maneuberable in
high altitude, relatively fast(386mph),heavyest armed in US(1x37MM Cannon,2X20mm
machinegns,4X7.62mm machine guns),streamlined, liquid-cooling fighters.
Becase, USSR like this type of Fighters. after remodeling, Many russian pilots preferred
P-39 than yaks.
Among 50 Russian Air Aces:
!) !st ranking COL.Kozhedu- used La-5FN and LA-7.
2) 2nd ranking Lt.COL.Rechkalov-- used P-39Q Airacobra.
3) 3rd ranking MaJ.Pokryshikin--- Mig-3 later changed to P-39 Airacobra.
4) 46th ranking MaJ.Safonov----Hurricaaine--> P-40 Warhawk.
5) 5th ranking Capt.Gulayev---P-39 Airacobra.
a

I found this book unsatisfactory in several respects. To start with, it failed to leave me with more than a supeficial impression of what it meant to be a Soviet pilot in WW2 - I found the book dry and impersonal. Secondly, it left unanswered many of the questions I had before I read it, like why soviet pilots were able to score so many victories with the P39, which was neglected by US pilots. Finally, there is one damning aspect: the book is inconsistent, contradicting itself often. For instance, it will say that a given version of a Yak fighter was introduced in combat, say, in february 1943; a few pages later, a caption will say that pilot XYZ scored a kill on that fighter version in november 1942... There is plenty of similar mistakes. If you are looking for reliable references, look elsewhere. The only positive thing I can say is that there are very few studies of Soviet pilots in WW2, so this book somehow fills a gap.

Okay, to start with those who don't know crap 'bout WWII shouldn't be here in the first place. Second, I'll give any Knothead an education 'bout WWII so he/she won't get things confused/mixed up. Fist off if it weren't for the Germans, the Soviets wouldn't have crap for an Air Force, Navy, or Army. All the stuff they have now was captured when they entered Berlin at the War's end. We, the US shouldn't have let them, cause now they're the reason the wrong people got their hands on stuff they should'nt. Second MOST if not ALL people are ignorant when it comes th e Soviet Army Air Force. To the Soviets, the Air Force was just another extention of the army & ONLY for that purpose; much like us until OUR AAF(Army Air Force for you that don't know much) The Soviets were getting Hammered by the Germans until WE got involved an gave the the Bell P-39 Air Cobra whic our gays thoroughly hated cause of its poor performance. But the Russians loved it cause it was a tank killer. It had 6 50 cal machine guns, 1 37mm gun, & 500-600lbs of bombs