Overview

The I-15, I-16 and I-153 fighters were the world's first mass-produced fighters. Some 17,000 Polikarpovs had been manufactured by the time production ceased in 1941. They served with the Republicans in the Spain, the Chinese against Japan in 1937–38, and the Soviets against both Japan in the Nomonhan Incident and Finland during the Winter War. By 1941, more than 20 Soviet pilots had made ace in Polikarpovs, and many more attained that status during the first months of the German invasion. Though thoroughly outclassed, the Polikarpov was the backbone of the Soviet air force during the early months of the war in the east, and continued to serve, as training aircraft and as frontline fighters, some right through to 1945.

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9781846039812

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This is an excellent account of the Aces that flew the Polikarpovs ... a hugely enjoyable and educational read, particularly if you are new to this subject. -Tim Hatton, Model Shipwrights Maslov's text is full of distinguished characters who often give firsthand accounts of what it was like to fly these pioneer fighters. There is the usual wealth of color profiles as well... -Jon Guttman, Aviation History (July 2011)

This is an excellent account of the Aces that flew the Polikarpovs ... a hugely enjoyable and educational read, particularly if you are new to this subject. -Tim Hatton, Model Shipwrights<br><br> Maslov's text is full of distinguished characters who often give firsthand accounts of what it was like to fly these pioneer fighters. There is the usual wealth of color profiles as well... -Jon Guttman, Aviation History (July 2011)

Author Information

Mikhail Maslov is a certified aviation engineer and an employee of the N E Zhukovsky Memorial Museum. He has written a number of articles and books on the history of Russian and Soviet aviation, including the monographs The I-16 Fighter, The I-15 Fighter, The I-15bis Fighter and The I-153 Fighter.

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