Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: Bino on May 17, 2011, 09:39:56 AM

Title: Suggested Reading on Russian Aircraft and the VVS?
Post by: Bino on May 17, 2011, 09:39:56 AM

I need to learn more about Russian planes of The Great Patriotic War, and how and where they were used. 

All book suggestions gratefully received.    :salute

My native tongue is (American-inflected) English and I can read German fairly well, but I only know a handful of words in Russian.

Title: Re: Suggested Reading on Russian Aircraft and the VVS?
Post by: Soulyss on May 17, 2011, 09:48:30 AM

My bookshelf is light on VVS stuff unfortunately, I did find a title that may be worth doing a little research on.  I have several books from Schiffer Books on the shelf, mostly unit histories from the 5th Air Force, but they also published America's Hundred Thousand which is a great reference for the U.S. Fighters.  I general I've been happy with the books I have gotten from them.

http://www.schifferbooks.com/newschiffer/ (http://www.schifferbooks.com/newschiffer/)


More specifically I saw this title
http://www.schifferbooks.com/newschiffer/book_template.php?isbn=0764304763 (http://www.schifferbooks.com/newschiffer/book_template.php?isbn=0764304763)

Can also find it cheap used. :)
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?isbn=0764304763&sts=t&x=39&y=10 (http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?isbn=0764304763&sts=t&x=39&y=10)

Title: Re: Suggested Reading on Russian Aircraft and the VVS?
Post by: Bino on May 18, 2011, 11:42:45 AM

In another thread, Fencer pointed me to "Soviet Air Power in World War II" by Yefim Gordon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1857803043).

Title: Re: Suggested Reading on Russian Aircraft and the VVS?
Post by: STEELE on May 18, 2011, 03:55:54 PM

Black Star/Red Cross

Title: Re: Suggested Reading on Russian Aircraft and the VVS?
Post by: 715 on May 18, 2011, 09:45:18 PM

Along time ago a squaddy recommended "Red Phoenix: The Rise of Soviet Air Power 1941-1945", Von Hardesty, Smithsonian History of Aviation Series, Smithsonian Institution Press, ISBN 1-56098-071-0.  It's structured by a chronological description of air campaigns, not by detailed discussion of aircraft performance. (In other words, lots of maps with arrows, orders of battle and description of engagements.)

Title: Re: Suggested Reading on Russian Aircraft and the VVS?
Post by: havillandhornet on May 18, 2011, 10:56:58 PM

There are quite a few books written by Yefim Gordon who seems to specialise in this area. In addition the one above there are these two which look quite good:

Soviet Combat Aircraft of the Second World War, Vol. 2: Twin-Engined Fighters, Attack Aircraft and Bombers (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1857800842/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwtheaviatio-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=1857800842)
Soviet Combat Aircraft of the Second World War, Vol. 1 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0760306486/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwtheaviatio-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=0760306486">Soviet Combat Aircraft of the Second World War, Vol. 1)

Title: Re: Suggested Reading on Russian Aircraft and the VVS?
Post by: Squire on May 20, 2011, 11:56:23 AM

Osprey Publishing of course also has excellent books on the subject. "Aircraft of the Aces" series has several on the VVS in WW2:

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/section.aspx?SectionID=37

Title: Re: Suggested Reading on Russian Aircraft and the VVS?
Post by: STEELE on May 21, 2011, 05:13:25 AM

Does anyone know if thee are any free eBooks (legal) out there on the subject?

Title: Re: Suggested Reading on Russian Aircraft and the VVS?
Post by: Bino on May 26, 2011, 10:01:29 AM

Quote from: Bino on May 18, 2011, 11:42:45 AM

In another thread, Fencer pointed me to "Soviet Air Power in World War II" by Yefim Gordon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1857803043).

Just received my copy of Gordon's book the other day, and I'm very happy with it.   :aok

Title: Re: Suggested Reading on Russian Aircraft and the VVS?
Post by: Gianlupo on June 13, 2011, 06:09:15 PM

Quote from: STEELE on May 18, 2011, 03:55:54 PM

Black Star/Red Cross

You mean Black Cross/Red Star! ;)

Unfortunately, I'm afraid most of the volumes are out of print and they can only be found at awful prices....

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Cross-Red-Star-Barbarossa/dp/0935553487/ref=pd_sim_b_5

Title: Re: Suggested Reading on Russian Aircraft and the VVS?
Post by: Brooke on June 13, 2011, 08:13:43 PM

I liked this one very much, and it dispels much misinformation about the P-39, which the Soviets used a lot.  It also covers much about how the Soviets used aircraft, with much operational information:

http://www.amazon.com/Attack-Airacobras-American-Against-Germany/dp/0700616543/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1308013957&sr=8-1