Just finished reading "Red Star Against The Swastika" by Vasily Emelianenko. IMHO it's one of the best books ever written, from any air force pilot.
Fascinating from several angles, including the various nicknames Russian pilots gave different aircraft eg TB-3 Transport was known as the Communal Grave; air battles covering less known fronts such as the Donets Basin, Caucasus and Kuban; the terrible casualty rate of IL-2 pilots - Emelianenko's Regiment (7th Guards) lost 202 men during the war; the strong competition and desire for medals and most interestingly life in a front line V.V.S. squadron.
Anyone who has a remote interest in the air war over Russia must read this book.
