AIRCRAFT OF THE ACES No 64 YAKOVLEV ACES OF WORLD WAR II

The Yak-1 entered Soviet service in 1941, one of three modern types of aircraft accepted for production just prior to the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Despite initial shortcomings, it soon proved to be the thoroughbred of the Soviet Airforce. Indeed, it remained in production until the end of the war, modernised but fundamentally recognisable. By VE-Day about 33,100 Yakovlev fighters had been built. Virtually all Soviet fighter regiments flew at least one variety of Yak for a time, including those which gained their fame identified with other aircraft, and consequently many pilots known as Airacobra or Lavochkin aces also scored victories with the Yak. Many other famous aces were exclusively ‘Yak patriots’, including the French Normandie pilots. This book focuses on the Soviet aces who scored all, or most of their victories in the Yak, drawing informaion from official unit histories and memoirs of the Soviet pilots themselves. Contents: The near collapse of 1941 * Introduction of the Yak-1 into service and its participation in the early battles of the war * Failed counter-attacks and retreat to Stalingrad * Stalemate and counter-attack * From the borders to Berlin * Appendices