Forthcoming book - Dragons on Bird Wings A Combat History of the 812th"Sevastopol"IAP

[Vlad Antipov]

Dear Sirs!

With good news with V-days!
Forthcoming book - Dragons on Bird Wings A Combat History of the 812th Fighter Regiment. Volume 1: Liberation of the Motherland by Vladislav Antipov & Igor Utkin. - will be published in this Summer 2005. (more than 100 photos,maps,the diagrams, aircraft profiles, full loss and victories lists e.t.c.)

"I would like to say “thank you” to the young generation represented by the
authors for not forgetting. They have not forgotten what we “oldtimers” did during the war. Reading the manuscript of this book, I once again lived through those events and that difficult time. I want most of all that our descendants will not forget any of this. Then there remains a chance that such a war will never be repeated."
Kapitan (retired) Aleksandr Ivanovich Ivanov
Pilot, 534th and 812th IAP.



"This extraordinary history, arguably the least known chapter in World War II, is best told at the regimental and small air unit level. However, it would not be until the fall of the Soviet Union this critical genre of historical literature flourished. Only with the small air unit histories were we able to reconstruct in detail how the Soviets reversed their fortunes in the air. Winged Dragons: History of the 812th “Sevastopol” fighter Regiment (Book One), written by Vladislav Antipov and Igor Utkin and now in English translation, offers us an intimate inside perspective on the brutal air war that raged on the Russian front. One can follow in remarkable detail the combat air operations through many notable battles, from the defense of Moscow, through the Kuban, to the liberation of the South Ukraine. This same time frame, it should be noted, became the pivotal context for Soviet fighter aviation to make its remarkable recovery and to challenge the Luftwaffe for air supremacy."

Historian, Curator of the Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum and Author of “Red Phoenix”,
Von Hardesty

I hope that our book will open eyes on many events.
With best regards my potential readers!
Thanks!
Vlad Antipov

[Ruy Horta]

Welcome!

That's great news Vlad, must be another classic in the making!

Can you share with us who will publish the books?

[Vlad Antipov]

Thanks Ruy!

Our publisher is new and I hope a good name - Canadian publisher "Aviaeology".
Some days back I have received samples of imposition of the book - and it very much was pleasant to me.
I hope that little bit later - we can place here an book pages example.
The project of the book will be in two parts (A4 format).
The first part covers the periods with 1942 to 1944. (~100 pgs 100 photos)
The second part - the end 1944 to 1945. (~>100 pgs 150 photos)

The small information from the book
Authors' Preface-
" Unfortunately, to this day there still has not been published a detailed history of the combat path of a VVS [voenno-vozdushnye sili (air forces of the Red Army)] aviation regiment. The 812th IAP [istrebitelniy aviatsionniy polk (fighter aviation regiment)] is interesting in this regard because by the results of its combat actions, it surpassed many widely known Soviet fighter regiments that received formal "guards" recognition. The 812th IAP retained its original designation. The pilots of this regiment fought practically all their air battles in Yakovlev fighters (Yak-1, Yak-7, various modifications of Yak-9); they mastered the new Yak-3 fighters that were being introduced to the forces. And the mastery of the new equipment cost the lives of pilots. It was this regiment that conducted field testing of the Yak-9K fighter, armed with the 45mm aviation cannon. In doing this, the pilots and aviation mechanics of the regiment acquired unique experience in the combat employment of the “ flying cannon ”. By the close of the war, the regiment had destroyed more than 500 enemy aircraft (among them an Me-262), and by this measure was among the top ten most productive units of the Soviet VVS.
The goal of this work is to inform the reader concerning this unusual combat unit and in doing so, by the example of this unit show how at the price of trial and error the training of the regiment’s pilots and ground personnel was conducted, and how methods, tactics, and devices for employing the Yak fighters in aerial combat, patrolling, bomber escort, and attack of ground targets were developed and perfected. The reader will be able to find for himself something new (or not known before) concerning the largest aerial conflict in the skies of the Kuban in 1943, that were later named the “ Kuban Meat Grinder ”. And by the example of the regiment’s losses the reader will come to understand why this grandiose air battle had such an unflattering name. In the story of this unit the reader will learn also of the air battles in the skies of southern Ukraine, Crimea, Lithuania, Poland, and Germany. "


And if you do not know that such 812 IAP is a small information:

Full Regiment Title and Battle Honours
812th "Sevastopol" Red Banner, Order of Suvorov III
Degree, Fighter Aviation Regiment.
Honorific title "Sevastopol"
Order of the Supreme Commander in Chief No. 136 of 14 May 1944.
Order of the Red Banner
Order of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of 10 July 1944.
Order of Suvorov III Degree
Order of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of 3 May 1945.
“ For exemplary fulfillment of the command’s missions in combat with the German invaders during the forcing of the River Berezina, for capture of the town Borisov, and for the valor and courage displayed during these actions. ”
The 812th IAP was one of the standard formation regiments of the VVS that reached the 500-victory level and had to its credit, among the downed enemy aircraft, a victory over the Me-262 jet fighter. It is not clear why, but not one of the three regiments of the 265th IAD [istrebitelnaya aviatsionnaya divisiya (fighter aviation division)], including the 812th IAP, received "guards" rank, though by their indicators they surpassed other regiments who were honored more than once. Five pilots who served in the 812th IAP were awarded the rank Hero of the Soviet Union. Five pilots executed a ram during this period.
During the war the regiment lost 67pilots. The stylized image of a bird’s wing on the Yak cowling became the calling card of the entire 3rd IAK [istrebitelniy
aviatsionniy korpus (fighter aviation corps)], including the 812th IAP. This symbol, as well as the callsign of the commander of the 3d Corps, General-Leytenant Ye. Ya. Savitskiy-"Dragon", were known during the time of the basic conflicts of the Great Patriotic War (GPW) on both sides of the front during the battles for the Kuban, southern Ukraine, and Crimea, during the liberation of Belorussia, Lithuania, and Poland, and during the capture of Berlin. And though the callsign of the regiment’s pilots was "Skvorets" [Starling], just the same they were genuine "dragons" in the air.

I hope that you and we (authors) together shall share the impressions about this first monography completely describing a history of Russian VVS fighter regiment(only 30 planes but four years of War).

Best regards
Vlad

[Marek_W_Pilat]

Congratulations for Vladislav Antipov and Igor Utkin!

Marek W. PIŁAT

[Audrius]

hello Vlad,

Originally Posted by Vlad Antipov

Forthcoming book - Dragons on Bird Wings A Combat History of the 812th Fighter Regiment. Volume 1: Liberation of the Motherland by Vladislav Antipov & Igor Utkin. - will be published in this Summer 2005.

A good news that I was waiting for a long already! It seems very soon come to true.
Good look to Vlad and Igor!
BR Audrius

[edwest]

Congratulations!



Ed West

[Vlad Antipov]

Book sample pages on attached file.

Best regards!

Vlad Antipov

[marsyao]

hi, Vlad, any update on this book ?

[Jim Oxley]

Excellent news, this will definitely be one for the bookshelf.

I hope you will post here Vlad when the book is published, or perhaps can provide a link to the publisher?

[aboltenko]

Our guest of the 9th Kalamazoo Russian Festival was none other but Valery Mashenkin whose father Alexei Mashenkin is one of the heroes of the 812 Regiment.

We are looking forward to featuring the book at our 10th Festival on October 29 this year. Any chance getting the book by that date?

Alexander Boltenko
Deputy Director of the Festival
http://russianfestival.org

Originally Posted by Vlad Antipov

Thanks Ruy!

Our publisher is new and I hope a good name - Canadian publisher "Aviaeology".
Some days back I have received samples of imposition of the book - and it very much was pleasant to me.
I hope that little bit later - we can place here an book pages example.
The project of the book will be in two parts (A4 format).
The first part covers the periods with 1942 to 1944. (~100 pgs 100 photos)
The second part - the end 1944 to 1945. (~>100 pgs 150 photos)

The small information from the book
Authors' Preface-
" Unfortunately, to this day there still has not been published a detailed history of the combat path of a VVS [voenno-vozdushnye sili (air forces of the Red Army)] aviation regiment. The 812th IAP [istrebitelniy aviatsionniy polk (fighter aviation regiment)] is interesting in this regard because by the results of its combat actions, it surpassed many widely known Soviet fighter regiments that received formal "guards" recognition. The 812th IAP retained its original designation. The pilots of this regiment fought practically all their air battles in Yakovlev fighters (Yak-1, Yak-7, various modifications of Yak-9); they mastered the new Yak-3 fighters that were being introduced to the forces. And the mastery of the new equipment cost the lives of pilots. It was this regiment that conducted field testing of the Yak-9K fighter, armed with the 45mm aviation cannon. In doing this, the pilots and aviation mechanics of the regiment acquired unique experience in the combat employment of the “ flying cannon ”. By the close of the war, the regiment had destroyed more than 500 enemy aircraft (among them an Me-262), and by this measure was among the top ten most productive units of the Soviet VVS.
The goal of this work is to inform the reader concerning this unusual combat unit and in doing so, by the example of this unit show how at the price of trial and error the training of the regiment’s pilots and ground personnel was conducted, and how methods, tactics, and devices for employing the Yak fighters in aerial combat, patrolling, bomber escort, and attack of ground targets were developed and perfected. The reader will be able to find for himself something new (or not known before) concerning the largest aerial conflict in the skies of the Kuban in 1943, that were later named the “ Kuban Meat Grinder ”. And by the example of the regiment’s losses the reader will come to understand why this grandiose air battle had such an unflattering name. In the story of this unit the reader will learn also of the air battles in the skies of southern Ukraine, Crimea, Lithuania, Poland, and Germany. "


And if you do not know that such 812 IAP is a small information:

Full Regiment Title and Battle Honours
812th "Sevastopol" Red Banner, Order of Suvorov III
Degree, Fighter Aviation Regiment.
Honorific title "Sevastopol"
Order of the Supreme Commander in Chief No. 136 of 14 May 1944.
Order of the Red Banner
Order of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of 10 July 1944.
Order of Suvorov III Degree
Order of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of 3 May 1945.
“ For exemplary fulfillment of the command’s missions in combat with the German invaders during the forcing of the River Berezina, for capture of the town Borisov, and for the valor and courage displayed during these actions. ”
The 812th IAP was one of the standard formation regiments of the VVS that reached the 500-victory level and had to its credit, among the downed enemy aircraft, a victory over the Me-262 jet fighter. It is not clear why, but not one of the three regiments of the 265th IAD [istrebitelnaya aviatsionnaya divisiya (fighter aviation division)], including the 812th IAP, received "guards" rank, though by their indicators they surpassed other regiments who were honored more than once. Five pilots who served in the 812th IAP were awarded the rank Hero of the Soviet Union. Five pilots executed a ram during this period.
During the war the regiment lost 67pilots. The stylized image of a bird’s wing on the Yak cowling became the calling card of the entire 3rd IAK [istrebitelniy
aviatsionniy korpus (fighter aviation corps)], including the 812th IAP. This symbol, as well as the callsign of the commander of the 3d Corps, General-Leytenant Ye. Ya. Savitskiy-"Dragon", were known during the time of the basic conflicts of the Great Patriotic War (GPW) on both sides of the front during the battles for the Kuban, southern Ukraine, and Crimea, during the liberation of Belorussia, Lithuania, and Poland, and during the capture of Berlin. And though the callsign of the regiment’s pilots was "Skvorets" [Starling], just the same they were genuine "dragons" in the air.

I hope that you and we (authors) together shall share the impressions about this first monography completely describing a history of Russian VVS fighter regiment(only 30 planes but four years of War).

Best regards
Vlad