As many of you know, the Polikarpov line of fighters in the I-15 and I-16 series were very much cutting edge in the mid-1930s when they first appeared. This is particularly so regarding the I-16 monoplane that was the envy of other nations due to its speed and armament. Since the Soviet Union was doing its best to meddle in the politics of other nations at the time and was very anti-faschist, it was a natural that they would seek to involve themselves in the Spanish Civil war. It was here that the I-15 and I-16 were to leave their mark on the world and it was here that the first aces were made flying this plane against what was basically the German Luftwaffe.

But it wasn't only Spain that allowed Soviet pilots to gain experience and rack up scores. The Japanese were also fought in 1937/1938 under the guise of helping the Chinese during their war with Japan and again in 1939 during the Nomonhan Incident in Mongolia. In both cases, the Polikarpov fighters were more than a match for the opposing forces. It was in 1939/40 during the Winter war with Finland that the skills of opposing pilots was such that the Polikarpov aircraft were not rulers of the skies. Some made ace against the Finns, but it wasn't as many as the Soviets had hoped. The time of ascendency was over and the Polikarpov fighters were becoming obsolescent.

It was during the Great Patriotic War against the Germans that the Soviet fighter was finally eclipsed. By this time, it was a 7 or 8 year old design and as such, generally inadequate against the superior fighters of the Luftwaffe. It doesn't mean that it was totally ineffective as Russian pilots still were able to rack up a respectable score against mostly bombers and liaison aircraft, but the venerable planes were being replaced by newer Yaks and Lavochkins. Still, the aircraft soldiered on in front line duty with some units until as late as 1944 before  being relegated to other tasks.

Author Mikhail Maslov tells us the story of the pilots who flew these planes and the successes that they had. Some gained all their success with the stubby Polikarpov fighters while others began their scores flying them. There are many stories of their successes taken from after action reports that are very interesting to read. When one combines this with period photographs of pilots and planes along with the very nicely done profiles by Andrey Yurgenson, it makes for not only a most interesting read, but a nicely done reference on an important Soviet aircraft.

It is a book I thoroughly enjoyed reading and can quite easily recommend to you.

May 2010

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