The Red Air Force at War : Barbarossa and the Retreat to Moscow : Recollections of Soviet Fighter Pilots on the Eastern Front

"The onset of war in the summer of 1941 was a disaster for the Soviet Air Force. In a few weeks, faced by the onslaught of the Luftwaffe, most of the Soviet frontline aircraft were destroyed, and the casualty rate among the pilots was cripplingly high. Yet the surviving few gained precious battle experience and they formed the core of the fighter force that turned the tables on the Germans and eventually won air superiority over the Eastern Front. Many of these Soviet pilots are still alive today and in this book they vividly recall the air battles of 60 years ago. In their memories, they recollect the chaos of the first moments of war - the nightmare of retreat and the overwhelming numerical and technological superiority of the Luftwaffe which wiped out fresh Soviet squadrons in days. But they also remember how their battle experience rapidly grew and how, with modern warplanes and new pilots, they confronted the Luftwaffe and eventually reversed the course of the war in the air. Looking back, they relive the terrifying dogfights they took part in, the exhilaration of shooting down an enemy, and the shock and bitterness of losing a friend. Most of the fighter pilots who contributed to this book were shot down at least once. Some were taken prisoner, escaped and joined partisans fighting behind the German lines. Some of these men were aces, with many victories to their names, and others were ordinary pilots. But they all have remarkable stories to tell"--Jacket Red Army Air Force pilots share their stories of WWII combat and life on the front lines in this collection of interviews with Russian war veterans. The onset of war in the summer of 1941 was a disaster for the Soviet Air Force. In a matter of weeks, most of the Soviet frontline aircraft were destroyed by the Luftwaffe onslaught, and the casualty rate among the pilots was cripplingly high. Yet the surviving few learned a great deal from their harrowing battle experience. In time, they formed the core of the fighter force that turned the tables on the Germans and eventually won air superiority over the Eastern Front. In Barbarossa and the Retreat to Moscow, Soviet fighter pilots share their recollections of going into battle against the relentless German invaders. Organized chronologically, the interviews in this volume tell the story of devastating defeats in 1941, the difficulties of regrouping and retraining, and the ultimate victory of 1945. En række sovjetiske jagerpiloter beretter om deres luftkampe på Østfronten under 2. verdenskrig