DOC Bf 109E/F vs Yak-1/7: Eastern Front 1941–42 (Duel) by Dmitriy Khazanov; Aleksander Medved in History

Review

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful. The Eastern Front: The counterair fight...By HMS Warspite"Bf 109E/F vs Yak-1/7" is a new Osprey Duel Series book; discussing the air battles between the standard German Bf 109 fighter and its principal Soviet opponent; the Yak-1/7 fighter. The time frame is the Eastern Front 1941-1942. The context is the German invasion of the Soviet Union and the horrendous scale of the fighting that followed; on the ground and in the air. The authors are Russian air historians Dmistriy Khazanov and Aleksander Medved.The book offers a sound comparison of the two primary fighters on both sides; including a chronology of their respective developments and technical details. The description of the head to head combat is anecdotal; if quite interesting. It seems clear from the narrative that the Germans enjoyed an initial advantage in the capabilities of their standard fighter and in their more experienced pilots and ground crews. It also seems clear that this advantage was essentially negated over time by the Soviet ability to keep generating new aircraft and pilots; and by the willingness to accept horrific losses.The narrative offers a solid appreciation of the two aircraft under study. The text is enhanced by an excellent collection of period photographs; maps; and modern illustrations. The language is sometime clumsy; as if parts of it were lifted from earlier Soviet histories more concerned with propaganda than historical accuracy. The discussion of the strategic situation; for example; turns a blind eye to Soviet involvement in the initiation of World War Two. The final analysis is a bit disappointing; the authors never quite reach a conclusion on the air duel; perhaps because definitive numbers are no longer available. Cautiously recommended to aviation buffs and students of the Second World War.12 of 14 people found the following review helpful. A War of Conflicting StatisticsBy Sepp DietrichThis book by the Russian authors Khazanov and Medved is interesting from the Russian point of view and provides an interesting picture and history of the Yak series of fighters; although a better and more accurate portrayal of the Bf 109 could have been made. Checking the bibliography of the Bf 109; one can see why numerous errors were made regarding the latter. For a better view of the 109; I would recommend Jochen Prien’s Meserschmitt Bf 109F; G; K Series and Thomas H. Hitchcock’s Bf 109F of the Monogram Close-Up 9. The latter provides the General Luftzeugmeisters/C - E2 Performance Statistics.Since this is the first time I have researched the Yak 1/7 and since it is based on Russian sources; I cannot criticise the content. The Bf 109 is another matter. Prien is a more modern up-to-date source regarding the Bf 109F and Hitchcock is also in error especially the so-called Bf 109F-5 of which only one was constructed and the Bf 109F-6 which never existed. It is unknown where the authors derived the performance statistics of the Bf 109F-2 and especially the Bf 109F-4; the latter which is claimed as having a top speed of 380-390 mph (page 19) and only 379 mph at 19; 680 ft. (page 32) when it is compared to the Yak 7/B. The Luftzeugmeister’s top speed for the Bf 109F-4 is specified at 410 mph at 20;341 ft. This also lists its armament of the MG 151/20 with 200 rounds and two MG 17s with 500 rounds each.These are minor issues but the major issue I confronted is the authors’ assertions that both the Russians and Germans made highly exaggerated claims of enemy aircraft destroyed. “Both sides considerably exaggerated their opponent’s losses in their combat reports.”This is certainly true regarding the claims of Russian fighter pilots. The authors cite the first day of the Campaign; 22 June 1941; when the Germans claimed 322 Russians shot down. The authors also assert that exact number will never be known. Had they consulted Christer Bergström’s Black Cross/Red Star Vol. 1 (they list Vol. 2 3); they would have known that the Russians admitted to a loss 336 aircraft in air combat (fighters and flak). The Rumanians also claimed several. So the German claims were very accurate indeed. The Germans lost 61 aircraft in air combat and the Rumanians lost 11 for a total of 72 and at the same time the Russians claimed 243 air victories for a over claim ratio of 3.5 to 1.The authors mention several air combat where they assume the Russian claims are accurate by stating the Russian fighter pilots shot down the Germans and not that they claimed German aircraft downed. One example is the story of Mikhail Baranov whose unit; the 183 IAP; claimed four Bf 109s and one Ju 87 out of a formation of 25 aircraft of Bf 109s and Ju 87s over Abganerovo rail station. On this date; I/JG 53; II/JG 77; and I/JG 52 each lost one Bf 109 but in separate places; the latter unit in a fight with I-153 biplanes. It is not likely that the escorting fighters consisted of two fighter groups so the best loss is one Bf 109 for the four claimed.The authors also cite the dogfight of Boris Yeromin whose unit; 296 IAP; claimed four Bf 109s from I/JG77 on 9 March 1942 but the German fighter group sustained no losses on this date.This book is another Russian attempt to make the Russian fighter pilot better than he was by asserting that he achieved successes he did not and by claiming that he did not exaggerate them any more than the Germans did. What is also missing from the book is the method of Russian confirmation of kills.0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy David MacPhersonexcellent book