Polikarpov I-15, I-16 and I-153 Aces (Aircraft of the Aces 95)

The I-15, I-16 and I-153 fighters were the world's first mass-produced fighters. A total of 17,000 Polikarpov fighters had been manufactured by the time their series production was terminated in 1941. Aircraft of the first series successfully operated in Spain with the Republicans during the civil war (1936-39), in Chinese hands against the Japanese (1937-38), and then with the Soviet Red Air Force again against the Japanese in Mongolia during the Nomonhan Incident (1939). Russian-flown fighter also saw action against the Finns in 1939-40 during the Winter War. By the time the Wehrmacht launched its surprise attack on the USSR on 22 June 1941, more than 20 Soviet pilots had made ace in Polikarpov fighters during these various conflicts. Still more aces were created in the first months of the German invasion, although losses suffered by the Soviet Air Force's five borderline military district units equipped with some 4000 I-15bis, I-153s, and I-16s were astronomical. Despite being thoroughly outclassed by the Bf 109E/F, the Polikarpov fighters constituted the backbone of Soviet fighter aviation for the first six month's of the war in the east. Many future aces started their combat careers in Polikarpov fighters, and newly-winged pilots continued to train on the I-15 UTI-4 two-seater until 1944. I-153s and I-16s actively participated in campaigns throughout 1942 and, in certain sectors of the frontline, into 1943. Amazingly, a handful of Polikarpov fighters remained in service through to 1945. This is an important title that helps tell the story of fighter evolution 'between the wars', as the Polikarpov family of aircraft effectively bridged the gap between the biplane fighters of WW1 and the monoplane fighters of WW2. They also saw combat in all of the 'smaller' conflicts of the 1930s leading up to WW2. This book also features a significant chunk of Spanish Civil War material, as well as operations against the Japanese in the late 1930s - both areas are very popular with aviation historians and hobbyists alike. The I-15, I-16 and I-153 fighters were the world's first mass-produced fighters. Some 17,000 Polikarpovs had been manufactured by the time production ceased in 1941. They served with the Republicans in the Spain, the Chinese against Japan in 1937–38, and the Soviets against both Japan in the Nomonhan Incident and Finland during the Winter War. By 1941, more than 20 Soviet pilots had made ace in Polikarpovs, and many more attained that status during the first months of the German invasion. Though thoroughly outclassed, the Polikarpov was the backbone of the Soviet air force during the early months of the war in the east, and continued to serve, as training aircraft and as frontline fighters, some right through to 1945. COVER ......Page 1 HALF TITLE......Page 2 TITLE......Page 4 IMPRINT......Page 5 CONTENTS......Page 6 INTRODUCTION......Page 7 SPANISH CIVIL WAR......Page 17 I-15 VICTORY LISTING......Page 25 ENTER THE I-16......Page 26 TAKING STOCK......Page 29 SWALLOWS OVER CHINA......Page 34 CHINESE ACES......Page 41 KHALKHIN GOL......Page 43 WEAKEST LINK......Page 47 ACES HIGH......Page 49 TREATY......Page 52 WINTER WAR......Page 63 GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR......Page 69 TARAN......Page 73 DEFENDING MOSCOW......Page 74 ODESSA FRONT......Page 77 BALTIC ACES 1941-43......Page 78 NIGHTFIGHTER......Page 84 FINAL VICTORIES......Page 86 APPENDICES......Page 90 INDEX......Page 96 Beretter om de sovjetiske piloter, der opnåede at blive flyveresser (mindst fem nedskydninger) i Polikarpov-jagerne I-15, I-16 og I-153 under Den Spanske Borgerkrig, krigen i Kina, Vinterkrigen i Finland og 2. verdenskrig. De pågældende flytyper beskrives kort