Russian View of the Air War

Concerning my earlier musings about the Reich Defence, I've just reached Chapter VI of Lipfert's book, and it's interesting that he says that in May 1944....

'...a Staffel was to be detached to the Reich Defense. We knew all too well that it was a virtual death sentence for anyone who had to move to the Reich......I would have flown against the Mustangs and bombers and would probably have shot some down. But the outcome of this affair was predictable. Everyone who flew in the Reich was 'burned' soomer or later. The same thing could happen any day against the Russians, but here there was a much better chance of getting home again in one piece...' ( Lipfert/Girbig, pp. 113/114. )

 

Hello Martin,

It's time I read Lipfert's Diary myself once more !!
His statement is very 'on topic'and clear, point taken! But I keep wondering, he was an Experte, would the same statement hold up for the normal/ average Luftwaffe pilot ?
Have you reached some conclusions yourself yet ?
Tip :
Luftwaffe Fighter Ace, From the Eastern Front to the Defense of the Homeland, by Norbert Hannig, Grubstreet,2004

 

Interesting Russian design. Notice on the last sentence he was shot by Stalin.
I do like the paint job. I wish it was in color.
Not real sure if I would fly combat in it or just go ahead and get shot on the ground.

http://www.aeronautics.ru/archive/vvs/from_pdf/kalinin/css/kalinin_1.htm

 

TA152, I will have to say that is the most interesting airplane that I have seen in quite a while. I wish I could see it without the fancy paint job so I could make out the way it looked better.

 

I was surfing and found this site with the IL-2 captured by the Germans and it said it was not liked by the Germans or Finns but did not go into any detail. Just said it was used for ground target practice.

http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/LRG/il-2.html

 

Not sure but I suppose the problem with getting spare parts must be one of the reasons why Finnish Air Force did not use IL-2 if they captured any. I have not read of any planes being used by us.

However we did use some Pe-2´s for reconnaissance for their speed.