Barbarossa & the Retreat to Moscow: Recollections of Soviet Fighter Pilots on the Eastern Front

The summer of 1941 marked the beginning of a catastrophic period for the Soviet Air Force. In a matter of weeks, the Luftwaffe's relentless assault resulted in the destruction of most of the Soviet frontline aircraft, and the pilots suffered immensely high casualty rates. Despite these dire circumstances, the surviving few gained invaluable combat experience and formed the nucleus of the fighter force that would eventually reverse the tide against the Germans, securing air superiority over the Eastern Front. Today, many of these Soviet pilots from that era are still alive, and in this book, they share vivid recollections of the aerial battles they fought 60 years ago.