Osprey Publishing

MiG-15 Aces of the Korean War Osprey Aircraft of the Aces #82

by  Leonid Krylov and Yuriy Tepsurkaev

Reviewed By  Keith Pruitt, IPMS# 44770

MSRP: $22.95 ISBN: 9781846032998 Web Site: www.ospreypublishing.com 96 pages, color artwork on front & back cover, with 72 black & white photographs, 8 detail line drawings, and 36 color profiles, Softbound It has long been thought that the Soviet Union, while assisting the Chinese to develop a modern Air Force and training Chinese pilots on the MiG-15 aircraft, were covertly involved in actual air combat during the Korean War. Krylov and Tepsurkaev have been researching this little-known aspect of the war for almost twenty years. Their research, including documents from the Central Archive of the Russian Defense Ministry, as well as the recollections of veteran pilots, has resulted in several articles and books being published in the Soviet Union. This is the first time that much of this information has been published in English. Using detailed unit histories and rare first-hand accounts, the authors have produced an excellently written chronological account of the Soviet involvement during the Korean War. Many of these pilots were combat-tested veterans of World War II, and several were aces from that war. Their narratives of combat, including their attacks on B-29 Superfortresses and dogfights with Gloster Meteors, F-84 Thunderjets, and the new F-86 Sabres, are nicely represented here. Interestingly, the swept-wing F-86 was apparently a huge surprise for them, and was actually mistaken for MiG-15s on more than one occasion. While there are a few photographs of the aircraft scattered throughout the text, and even some stills taken from gun-camera footage, this book is more about the men that flew their MiG-15s into combat in the skies over Korea. It is their story, told exclusively from their perspective. During the war, a total of 52 Soviet pilots downed at least five enemy aircraft to achieve the title of MiG-15 Ace, with thirteen of those downing ten or more. Their stories are interesting and unique, and many here are told to the world for the very first time. "Soviet MiG-15 Aces of the Korean War" is well-written and organized very nicely. It is extremely well researched and documented, and provides an insight into the Soviets previously well-hidden involvement during the Korean War. This book could be a valuable historical reference for anyone who chooses to model aircraft from this historical period, and I recommend it highly to anyone interested in the air war in Korea. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Osprey Publishing and IPMS/USA for this review sample.

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