French Eagles, Soviet Heroes: The Normandie-Niemen Squadrons on the Eastern Front

by John D. Clarke

In 1942, General de Gaulle agreed to send French pilots to fight alongside the Red Air Force against the Germans on the Eastern Front. On 1 September 1942, the Groupe de Chasse III or 3rd Fighter Group 'Normandie' was created, equipped with Yak-3 fighter aircraft. On 5 April 1943, pilots Preziosi and Durand shared the unit's first 'kill'. Over the next two years, the group became the most highly decorated fighter unit ever to fly for France, and the second highest scoring fighter air group of the Soviet Air Force. Such was their notoriety that in May 1943 an order was signed by the German General Keitel stating that all 'Normandie' pilots were to be shot if captured. The 'Normandie' Group took an active part in the air support of the epic Battle of Kursk and in 1944 Stalin added 'Niemen' to their title in recognition of the help they rendered to the Soviet Army in crossing this river. The first of the Western Allies to capture and occupy German territory, 'Normandie-Niemen' clashed with the crack German fighter group JG51 Molders in the air battle over Konigsberg in March 1945. By the war's end the Group had racked up an impressive 273 confirmed victories and another 36 probables.

Genres: Aviation, Military History

288 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2005

Reviews

[Jaroslav Kotov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe not a page-turner but contains many interesting details necessary for a deeper understanding of the character of the air combat on the Soviet-German front. The whole account seems reliable but mostly as far as it sourced on the regimental journal, apart from it there are dubious assertions and mere blunders - e.g. when the author confuses Stalin's sons Jakov and Vasily etc.

[Huw Hopkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

A comprehensive run through the unit's history, the likes of which I haven't come across before.

[Ang · Rating 1 out of 5]

While I have marked this book as read I did not complete it. After dragging myself through the first four chapters [only some 60 pages] I could not, nor did not want, to continue. I found this book phenomenally dry and very tough going. While incredibly detailed - to the point of being laboured, it is also very lacklustre, written in a very objective style and with little humour. In saying that, it would be a great aide-memoir for family or followers of the Normandie Squadron - it records daily activities down to the hour and gives a solid reference of what happened where and who was involved.