Modeling the VVS Special Book Review Dragons on Bird Wings The Combat History of the 812th Fighter Air Regiment Vol. 1: The Liberation of the Motherland Vlad Antipov and Igor Utkin By Erik Pilaskii

The 812 IAP has been long one of my personal favourites, and when I heard that a major work on this regiment was due, naturally I was excited. Of course, I could admit that I was also sceptical. We have endured, after all, much nonsense in this genre of aviation writing, and the prospect that the volume would be replete with colour profiles also caused my eyebrow to raise slightly askance. However, all such thoughts were summarily dismissed upon inspection of the book, and I feel slightly ashamed of myself to have been so doubtful of researchers who are obviously rather skilled. Their comprehensive understanding of the subject matter is most impressive.

The book is a chronicle of the combat operations of the unit, following from its birth (and re-birth) through to the summer of 1944. The 812 IAP took place in some of the most significant actions of the War, and on a front largely ignored in most popular literature on aviation history-- namely, the South and Caucasus Fronts. The authors have generously adorned the work with personal recollections and anecdotal material which is quite lovely. However, at all times the meat of the book stands firmly on the documents and records uncovered in their research, which I must add at once are not limited to Soviet material alone. The resulting loss and claim figures are truly outstanding, and care is taken to cite such material from German sources in confirmation. The various appendices and tables in this work are masterful.

This concrete documentary work is matched by analytical skill in understanding the complexities of the combat situation in the War. The various tactical and technical variables are understood clearly by the authors, and presented in a very comprehensible format for the reader. This aspect of the work alone is a breakthrough, and I do not recall any previous treatise on this subject dealt with in quite the same way. Tactics and tactical errors are discussed in detail, and along with this some fine technical material on the relative characteristics of the aircraft involved is presented.

Graphically, the book is very nicely produced and beautifully formatted. The scale line drawing work is very good, and I believe these come from Alexandr Rusetski. I was quite surprised as well to find excellent profile work depicting aircraft in correct colouration and based upon proper line drawings-- something which I have come not to expect in any case. I was delightfully surprised. The general layout and use of colour in the book is outstanding, and very impressive.

Dragons On Bird Wings represents a watershed on the matter of regimental histories for studies in VVS aviation. Indeed, it must really have set the bar for all such work, being a superlative example of this genre. The book combines research, analysis and memoir in a truly superior manner, and I must say that I am absolutely delighted for the book's fine team. I await the next volume with great urgency.

Were it possible to award six stars out of five I would do so. The book is is a required and priceless addition to any VVS library or modeller's shelf.

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