Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)In this book we read the story of Nikolai Sutiagin, the top MiG-15 pilot during the Korean War. This book is very interesting in that it looks at a chapter of history that officially didn't exist in Russian history until the fall of the USSR allowed the story to be told for the first time.
In this book we learn that, yes indeed, Americans were flying against Soviet pilots over North Korea and it was NOT North Korean or Chinese pilots behind the sticks of MiG-15s in MiG Alley. An entire Soviet air defense corps was sent to the theater, including Sutiagin's 17th Interceptor Aviation Regiment. Nikolai Sutiagin, initially a lieutenant in the Soviet Air Force whose only previous combat experience was during the brief Soviet invasion of Manchuria and Korea in the last weeks of WWII, rapidly proved himself to be an exceptional pilot behind the controls of a jet fighter.
The daily life of the Soviet pilots and support personnel are looked at in this book, which gives a few eye-opening glimpses into the efforts to hide the presence of Soviet pilots in China (issuing them Chinese uniforms!) and the morale issues which were a problem. There are quite a few first-hand accounts of aerial combat but they are difficult to follow at times. The main weakness I found in the book was the minimal discussion of the ground-controlled interception and the role radar played in the successes the Soviet enjoyed. Still, there is more than enough in this book to keep the reader satisfied.
Good photos and excellent writing. Definitely a plus for this subject!
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