Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front
Author: John Weal
Illustrator: Iain Wyllie
Publication Date: 25 May 2001
Number of Pages: 96
The highest scoring aces of any aerial conflict were the Luftwaffe pilots involved in the bloody combats on the Russian Front. The most common fighter used by these pilots was the Bf 109, which was involved in the action from Operation Barbarossa in June 1941, through to the doomed Defence of the Reich in 1945. Units like JGs 5, 52 and 54 all flew the Messerschmitt fighter, progressing from Emil to Gustav variants. This volume includes all the high-scoring aces and explains just how difficult a job the Jagdwaffe faced on the Russian Front, and how its experts achieved such overwhelming scores. Aircraft of the Aces 6 and 37 are also available in a single volume as ‘German Aces of the Russian Front’.
Biographical Note
Arguably the finest profile artist in the business, Joan Weal’s love of German aircraft makes his work a treat for students of the subject. He has written several Aces volumes, and two books on the JU 87 in the companion series Combat Aircraft. Iain Wyllie is one of Britain’s leading – and most prolific aviation cover artists. A native of Northern Ireland, he trained as a naval draughtsman, and spent many years working in this capacity. Iain chose to become a full-time aviation artist in the late 1980s, and has been responsible for creating over 60 cover artworks for Osprey’s hugely successful Aircraft of the Aces and Combat Aircraft series since 1994. His artwork is synonymous with originality of subject, intricate detail and technical accuracy. Mark Styling has illustrated several books in both the Aces and Combat Aircraft series. He has recently switched mediums from airbrush to Mac art and has produced some of the best profiles Osprey has used to date in Combat Aircraft 18.
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Aaron Trueman