[Griffon]

Hello Denes!

as I found some time to read the first 15 pages of your new book, I do post some more comments, basically also a main question that bothers me since having read some of Christer´s books.

In the introduction, you mention the supposed obsolescence of a large proportion of the VVS equipment.

Christer on the other hand, in his new Midland title, quite clearly states, that compared to other air forces in 1941, the VVS planes compared quite favourably.
and after thinking a little more about this, I tend to agree with him.

planes like the I-16, the Pe-2, the IL-2 and even more so the Yak-1 were very good planes, compared to British types like the Hurricane, the Blenheim or even the Spit Mk V, being in use by the time, Barbarossa started.
even the SB-2 compared favourably with the Blenheim IMHO, and planes like the IL-4, DB-3 or even the Yer-2 were as good as Wellingtons or Whitleys, again IMHO.

that the VVS was slaughtered at the beginning of Barbarossa surely had not so much to do with a marked superiority of LW planes, tactics and pilot experience (and politics-many commanding officers were shot when they were considered not brave or aggressive enough IIRC) had a large part to do with that either.

so maybe we could start a little discussion about this topic.
was the LW really that much superior equipment wise?
Personally, I do not think so:

what do others think?

cheers
phil