Soviet bombers played a vital role in defeating the Germans on the Eastern Front, yet their contribution is often forgotten. This graphic memoir should help to set the record straight. The author, a leading Soviet bomber pilot who flew throughout the conflict, tells his story from the desperate days of the German assault in 1941 to the point where Germany was invaded and the Nazis were destroyed. He gives a vivid account of his experiences during over 300 bombing missions in the dangerous skies over Russia, the Ukraine, Poland and Germany. His story is compelling reading. AUTHOR: Colonel General Vasily V. Reshetnikov was born in 1919 and joined the Soviet Air Force after serving in the Komsomol, the youth section of the Communist Party. During the Second Worl War, as a member of a long-range bomber regiment, he flew 307 missions. He was honoured as a hero of the Soviet Union in 1943. He continued his air force career after the war, rising to become a senior commander. Between 1969 and 1980 he was Commander of the Long-Range Air Force and from 1980 to 1986 he was Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force of the Soviet Union. b/w photos
