The Soviet Air Force at War

The Epic of Flight

by Russell Miller, Time-Life Books

Traces the development of the Russian aircraft industry, describes specific models of Soviet military aircraft, and recounts aerial confrontations in World War II

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Aviation, Reference

175 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Russell Miller (born c. 1938) is a British journalist and author of fifteen books, including biographies of Hugh Hefner, J. Paul Getty and L. Ron Hubbard. While under contract to The Sunday Times Magazine he won four press awards and was voted Writer of the Year by the Society of British Magazine Editors.

Reviews

[Christian D. D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ochin karasho, tovarish! Another reminder why I like the old Time-Life Books history series from the 1970s and 80s so much, in this case the Epic of Flight series. As is typical for Time-Life volumes, “The Soviet Air Force” contains an excellent balance of photographic and textual information.
Regarding the latter, it provides a concise history of the titular subject starting from the Czarist, pre-communist roots to the Bolshevik takeover to the Spanish Civil War to WWII (or, as the Soviets themselves called it, “The Great Patriotic War”). Regarding WWII in particular, the reader learns of the desperate days of Operation Barbarossa wherein the Red Air Force was nearly wiped out, to the turning of the tide at Stalingrad and Kursk, and ultimately “Pobyeda (Victory).”

Fascinating insights into topics such as the Il-2 Sturmovik (which rained hellfire and brimstone upon the Wermacht), the all-female Night Witches, Soviet aces, and so forth.

My only criticism is that the author gives relatively short shrift to the Cold War era, i.e. post-WWII Soviet Air Force. That druthers aside, a top-notch read nonetheless.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction to the Soviet-Nazi air war during WWII. I was surprised to learn that almost all air operations of the Soviet "Air Army" during the Great Patriotic War were close air support of ground troops and tank divisions. For instance during the largest tank battle of world history, the Battle of Kursk, the skies were filled with Soviet and Luftwaffe fighters duking it out almost immediately above ground forces. Well done book for those interested!

[Zeyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent and beautifully presented history of the Red Army Airforce, though now heavily out-dated (having been written when the force still existed). Since superseded by other, more detailed texts and documents released by the Russian Government. Still an excellent (and very pretty) primer on the subject.

[Professor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great bathroom read, my only real quarrel with this book is that I wanted more information, more specifics and a longer time frame. I could've also used more information on the civil war era.

[Kevin Keating · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot from this book about the Soviet Air Force. The most interesting thing was that the USA was generously giving them thousands of aircraft and when some B-17s landed in their airspace 300 miles from German lines, German planes followed them and bombed them. American fighters "were not allowed" to tise to fight back. Russian planes responsible for their security did literally nothing. The Russians seemed complicit, and this was in June of 44. FDR was a dupe for too long. Anyway, I will research that one.

[Michael Wiggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mom and dad got this book and most of the series for me in the 80s, when really my mom could little afford it. I can't thank my folks enough for helping me on my road to being a thinking, exploring young man.