Saburo Sakai

[mauser]

For the Eastern Front, another great book (actually series) is "Black Cross, Red Star."   So far there are two volumes, covering from Barbarosa to 1942.  The series is still ongoing.  I don't have them personally, but have heard good reviews.  See their website:

http://www.bergstrombooks.elknet.pl/bc-rs/

There are excerpts from the books as well as some other anecdotes from their research.  In their "German and Soviet Fighter Aces - A Comparison," they talk about how most ppl think that the Eastern front air war was easier than the Western front for the Germans and that kills on the Eastern front were not worth as much as those made on the Western front.  The Germans didn't have to deal with fleets of bombers and escorts at 25k to 30k altitude in the east.   However, the authors show that Western front pilots who transferred to the East did poorly in their new environment while Eastern front pilots who went West (Bar to name one) did well.    Anyway, the series seems to be more primary source oriented so it will probably do better at dispelling myths.  

mauser

sorry for the sidetrack

[Puck]

As I understand it the Eastern front was almost totally ground support; most engagements were below 10,000'.  Among other things this would explain why the Russiam aircraft are so effective down low.

When you think about it the MA is more like the eastern front than the western.

I wonder how well the Jug drivers doing JABO work would have done.  I can see were a pilot who is accostomed to escort duty at 25,000 feet would be out of his element.

[steely]

He shot down a lone RAAF Boston of 32 Sqn piloted by Plt Off Warren Cowan. The Boston made erratic manuevers causing his flight of 8 Zero's to be dispersed, before he shot the Boston down.

he even wrote a letter a testimonial to the Austrailian Defense Minister in 1997. Requesting Cowan and his crew be cited for Bravery. It was denied

 Right on,i saw a documentary here in Australia about 3 weeks ago all about that mission,Sakai San's son was interviewed (think it was his son)and remembers his father always being impressed with the evasives that Cowan had tried (differential throttle turns anyone?).

 Salute

[Glasses]

Bah! Sadaaki Akamatsu was the best  Japanese ace.  A candidate to be entered into the FDB hall of fame if they had one.

[Widewing]

Originally posted by Puck
As I understand it the Eastern front was almost totally ground support; most engagements were below 10,000'.  Among other things this would explain why the Russiam aircraft are so effective down low.

When you think about it the MA is more like the eastern front than the western.

I wonder how well the Jug drivers doing JABO work would have done.  I can see were a pilot who is accostomed to escort duty at 25,000 feet would be out of his element.

Remember, the U.S. 9th Air Force and the British 2nd Tactical Air Force were primarily dedicated to low level close support. Indeed, the primary fighter in the 9th through the end of the war was the P-47, with the P-38 adding its considerable punch. The RAF equal (the 12th TAF) flew Typhoons, Spits and Tempests. Plane for plane, the western allies fielded more effective aircraft and pilots. Soviet aircraft were generally specialized for a particular mission. Western air forces flew a diverse array of "multi-role" aircraft, allowing for a level of flexibility never even dreamed of in the Soviet Union during WWII.

My regards,

Widewing

[salem]

Originally posted by Puck
As I understand it the Eastern front was almost totally ground support; most engagements were below 10,000'.  Among other things this would explain why the Russiam aircraft are so effective down low.

When you think about it the MA is more like the eastern front than the western.

I wonder how well the Jug drivers doing JABO work would have done.  I can see were a pilot who is accostomed to escort duty at 25,000 feet would be out of his element.

A couple...

"Barbarossa" by Alan Clark covers the whole show

"Stalingrad" by Anthony Beevor is an absolute gem

regards,
aircav

[Glasses]

Well not neccesarily I see that rooks primarily fly high above ground and many engagements are well above 10k with them. While the Bishops I notice can come from the deck all the way to the stratosphere.