The Russian
Civil War was one of the major events of the last century, leading to the
establishment of the Soviet
Union. After the First World War the British Government, with the
full backing of Secretary of State for War Winston Churchill, sent British
forces to help the White Russian armies end the Bolshevik Revolution. In
1918–1920 the RAF sent 221, 266 and 47 Squadron to fight alongside General
Denikin in South Russia.
The RAF launched attacks on Red Army troops, ships and aircraft, and
dropped bombs on Grozney, Astrokhan and Tsaritsin (Stalingrad), which was captured by British tanks 23 years
before Hitler’s army was destroyed there. Many of the RAF men were experienced
and battle-hardened pilots, having fought on the Western Front against the
German Air Force; the Red Air Force soon learned the quality of their opponents.
With the overall collapse of the White Forces in South Russia, the British were forced to make an
honourable withdrawal in 1920. The contribution made by the RAF aircrews to the
White Russian cause was nonetheless great, and out of all proportion to their
numbers.
This is the first book focusing on the 1918–1920 RAF campaign in
South Russia ever to be published, and presents a fascinating insight into an
almost unknown period in RAF history.
