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Mig Pilot: The Final Escape of Lt. Belenko Paperback – January 1, 1983

by John Barron (Author)

4.8 157 ratings

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I was so blown away by this book I had to meet Viktor in person and now count him as a personal friend. The book is factual in every respect and is difficult to put down once started. John Barron is an excellent author and did a first class job of writing Viktor's story. In addition to an exciting escape story it reveals why the Soviet Union had to collapse of its own ineptitude, deceit, and corruption. It details humorous incidents such as army pilots' mess-hall riots due to bad food. Mig Pilot is also a biography of an exceptional man whose intelligence saw through a lifetime of brainwashing. The story is humorous in places and engrossing from beginning to end. It starts right out with Viktor's desperate and harrowing escape flight to freedom in his top-secret Mig-25 Foxbat, then in subsequent chapters details the life events that led to his courageous decision to "go for broke" and make his live-or-die dash to freedom. It illustrates how America probably could have given the Soviets all of its top secrets and they would have found a way to screw up making use of them.Viktor is not only a first class pilot, he is also a true hero. Don't lend this book to anyone and expect to get it back.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Avon Books (January 1, 1983)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 222 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0380538687
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0380538683
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.01 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.7 x 4.2 x 6.9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #796,764 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #76,555 in Biographies (Books)

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4.8 157 ratings

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4.8 out of 5

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A look back in time for USSR

Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2024

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Fantastic book! I read this 40 years ago many times, but it fell apart over time, like a MIG 25. A well written book by a Soviet pilot about the contrasts between a privileged USSR citizen, and "decadent" American society in 1976.

One of my all time favorites, along with Paper Lion by George Plimpton, and Escape from Red China, by Robert Loh.

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M. G Watson

What would Spartacus do?

Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2006

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I read this book to pieces -- literally -- when I was in my early teens, and just seeing the paperback cover reproduced here on Amazon ("Russia gave him everything a man could want -- except freedom" -- printed on the back) brings me way, way, waaaaay back, to an old story that never gets old.

Viktor Belenko was a Soviet fighter pilot who defected to Japan in the 1970s -- in his top-secret Mig 25 "Foxbat", at the time the world's fastest and most feared interceptor. On the surface he seemed an extremely unlikely candidate to jump the fence of the worker's paradise: the son of a decorated partisan fighter of the Second World War, he had overcome his poverty-stricken family's lack of political connections with a Samurai-like work-ethic and, against all odds, become a pilot of the most coveted and jealously-guarded aircraft in the USSR. He made good money, had the best priveleges, and could have looked forward to a cushy retirement when he was only 40 years old. His defection was as much a question of "Why?" as a question of "How?"

Author John Barron writes a compact, highly readable account of Belenko's life and the long series of incidents which turned him from an idealistic young communist, who sheds tears over the death of Stalin, to a man so filled with hatred for the regime he seeks not merely to escape it but to hurt it in the most grievous possible way -- by handing its most precious secrets to the enemy.

"Mig Pilot" is one of those stories that can be enjoyed on several levels. Read through quickly, it is a first-class adventure, a "will he or won't he get away with this" thriller. Read more slowly and thoughtfully, it is a terse, often humorous, yet ultimately horrifyingly revealing tale of what life was like under the communist system -- a system so corrupt, incompetently managed and morally bankrupt it drove some to suicide, most to intellectual surrender, and a tiny few to risk their lives just to get the hell away from it.

Barron litters the book with anecdotes about the grotesquerie that was the Soviet Union: about buildings so shoddily constructed they crack apart with their inhabitants still in them; officials so corrupt they refuse to perform their jobs unless paid substantial bribes; crime so rampant that people are stabbed to death for the clothes on their backs; enlisted men treated so badly they riot, desert and murder; and a system of informers so all-pervading that only the most dishonest man could ever rise to the top. Everywhere you look is filth, corruption, lying, hypocrisy, and cant, all set to the tune of patriotic music and propaganda slogans that bear about as much resemblance to reality as a Tom & Jerry cartoon. It's Orwell's "1984", with worse technology.

Ultimately, though, the book is not about oppression but rather freedom -- the indestructable, indefatigable desire for human beings to breathe and think and speak their minds, without wondering if the secret police will take them away to a death camp or a mental institution for their troubles. Belenko, for all his perks and petty priveleges, found himself unable to play the role of [...]to the communist party's pimp. He risked everything on the gamble that, somewhere over the horizon, there was a better way. If Barron, who is admittedly jingoistic American patriot of the cardboard sort, made the better way look a bit too close to perfect....well, to Belenko's eyes, maybe close to perfect was perfect enough. To paraphrase Howard Fast, whose (ironically) pro-communist novel "Spartacus" served as Belenko's lifelong inspiration:

"As long as men suffered, and other men profited from those who suffered, the name of Viktor Belenko would be remembered, whispered sometimes and shouted loud and clear at others."[...]

27 people found this helpful

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Carl J

Excellent Book

Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2023

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This book was a very entertaining read. I remember back in the day when this happened, but had never heard the details. Gives an account of life in the Soviet Union and what happened before and after the spectacular defection. Highly recommend!

Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2024

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This is not the most finely written book I’ve ever read, but it’s historical perspective makes it hard to put down.
I didn’t like the ending. Abruptly, it leaves you hanging as if the book was never finished, not like it’s leaving you with a little something to ponder on. Nonetheless, it’s a good read.

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I Like Zombies

This book should STILL be in print.

Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2014

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This is a fantastic book for many reasons. First, the story isn't widely known and it represents such a monumental statement about the differences between Soviet and American life that it deserves to be remembered. It's all but unbelievable that this would have happened back then, and the author, with input from Lt. Belenko, really makes the case for the reasoning behind this unbelievable defection. Learning about the vast differences in life from the eyes of someone who was indoctrinated to think the US was the worst place on earth is incredible and really makes you feel proud of our way of life here, with all it's flaws.

I think that some of the importance of this book may be lost on the younger generations, but those of us who lived in the 70's and 80's know what the Soviet Union represented and the pervasive sense of dread at what could have become a nuclear world war three. This book really shows how far away that may have actually been due to the inherent corruption and inefficiency of the Soviets.

11 people found this helpful

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Audrey

Fabulous insights into the evils of communism.

Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2021

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Intriguing, valuable, thought provoking story that provides a clear picture of the vast distinctions between the United States & the former Soviet Union. The magnitude of defection is lost on many - to their detriment. This book should be a mandatory read. What rich discussion could ensue.

Regarding the seller - the well packaged book arrived quickly & in the condition described. Top notch transaction.

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CJP

Russia and America through the eyes of a privileged Russian citizen.

Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2017

Verified Purchase

My husband mentioned that he read about this guy in the Reader's Digest when he was a boy. He was very moved by how the pilot could not believe all the food in America. He thought grocery stores were propaganda staged just for him.

I ordered the book for Christmas for my husband, and when it got here, I started reading it and I got hooked. I had to read it in secret before Christmas. I could not put it down. He talks about his life growing up in Russia, how he became an elite pilot, how he grew disillusioned, and how he made his daring escape to Japan. He came to America and he thought everyone was faking how nice they were. He was amazed at the efficient farms, the clean and sanitary hospitals, the grocery stores full of food, and being free to do as he pleased. I loved it.

15 people found this helpful

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Tammi Bethany Say

Great biography

Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2022

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I first read this book in the 1980’s when I was in the USAF

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Top reviews from other countries

Chris K.

Good insight into the USSR.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 27, 2024

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Very interesting read. Gives a good description of life for the majority in post war USSR. Don't let it happen here.

Suni

What a great read!

Reviewed in Canada on March 20, 2019

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This was a real page turner!

One person found this helpful

Robert Berlowicz

Greate way to understand live in USSR

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 3, 2013

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Ever since i have heard about this book, for mny years ago I was planing to read it, finaly I got up to it. Great book full of humor and easy to read great experiance.

pat

I loved it

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 18, 2019

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An aviation classic.

Stephen Bloom

Worth reading

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 8, 2015

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Very good read but I'm not sure how much of it is from the mouth of Belenko, or the imagination of the author.