Thanks the folks at Osprey, we have been able to get the stories of those pilots and air forces that were hitherto, relatively unknown outside their native countries. This edition covers the Aces of the Slovak and Bulgarian Air Forces. Slovakia was one of those states over run by the Germans in the time before war broke out and was the result of the annexation of a section of Czechoslovakia that contained a large percentage of German-speaking people.

Their initial air force was solely comprised of Czech aircraft with the Avia B.534 biplane fighter being its most modern aircraft. It was soon obvious that the type was not able to stop faster bombers and though it did well in the eastern front against equal Soviet equipment, it was soon replaced by hand-me-down Bf-109E fighters  and later more modern G-2 and G-6 variants. Most of the Slovakians who reached ace status did so while fighting with the Germans in the Soviet Union and their stories are interesting and well told.

The Bulgarians were actually involved the the war for only a few years as they chose to capitulate in late 1944 and then joined the Allied cause. While only having 2 true aces, the pilots of the Bulgarian AF earned their honors mostly against Allied bombing raids during late 1943 and into early-mid 1944. They also were using Bf-109s as their main equipment and put up a spirited defense against US and British bombing campaigns.

As with all the Osprey series, there are many pages of color profiles to help illustrate the aircraft used by the various pilots. An intriguing book about a little known part of WWII in Europe that you should have on your shelves.

Available in bookstores everywhere, through Classic Motorbooks at (800) 826-6600 or at www.motorbooks.com. For more on the complete line of Osprey books, visit www.ospreypublishing.com

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