Last War of the Superfortresses

This Asia@War title was previously published as a standalone title in 2016.

In Last War of the Superfortresses the authors provide a detailed history of the confrontation between Soviet fighters and the United States Far East Air Force’s B-29 ‘Superfortress’ bombers during the Korean War of 1950–1953, drawing on Military documents in the Central Archive of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation in Podolsk as well as published Western sources. The recollections of pilots who served in the 64th Fighter Air Corps, and who participated personally in the events described, are also widely used. Almost all the battles that took place between Soviet fighters and the ‘Superfortresses’ are analysed in detail and the authors have, on the basis of a comparison of Soviet archive documents and data from published Western sources, attempted to clarify the actual losses on both sides in these battles. 

Particular attention has been paid to key events in the history of the confrontation between the MiG-15 and B-29 such as the air battles of April and October 1951, which had a significant impact on the course of the Korean War and influenced the development of military aviation in both the USSR and the USA. Extensive losses in combat with the MiGs served as one of the most influential arguments for curtailing the piston engine B-36 and B-50 bomber programmes and boosting development of one of the most famous aircraft in the history of global aviation – the B-52 ‘Stratofortress’. 

The authors analyse the advantages and the disadvantages of the La-11 and the MiG-15bis – the principal fighters of the 64th Fighter Air Corps – from the point of view of their ability to intercept the B-29s. Attention has been paid to the tactics of the opposing sides, and to how these changed over the course of the war, along with the technical aspects of the confrontation between Soviet fighters and ‘Superfortresses’. 

Last War of the Superfortresses is illustrated with photographs from the personal archives of veterans of the 64th Fighter Air Corps, the Central Archive of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, and the US National Archives. An extended colour profile section showing camouflage and markings of nearly 40 aircraft is also included.

 

“If you are interested in the conflict in Korea or just fancy something different, this book will not disappoint. It is an education, and it comes with all the style we have come to expect from this publisher. Recommended.” War History Online

"... This is a book loaded with statistics and excellent narrative accounts of air to air, jet to bomber and jet to jet arrangements." Airborne Quarterly

“Enjoyed it.” Historical Miniatures Gaming Society

"..The Korean War remains something of a forgotten conflict to many of us I think, so this one is thoroughly interesting in my view. Especially so as it is written from the point of view of the Russian MiG pilots who were engaged in the war. There are 14-pages of fine colour profiles, featuring both MiG 15s and B-29s, plus a couple of full colour maps. Plenty of archive photos are used to illustrate the stories throughout the book. Ultimately, the speeds of the modern jets meant the end of the large piston engined bomber that had first made its name in WW2." Robin Buckland, Military Model Scene

"...Ultimately, this is a riveting read, which will have you gagging to build Korean War B-29s… and possibly the aircraft that defended against them." Keymodelworld.com

“…a very good book full of all sorts of Soviet pilot stories and insights into Soviet operations during the war. I very much enjoyed reading this perspective and I know you will as well.” Modelingmadness.com

“…a very detailed color profile section with 9+ pages of MiG 15 profiles and 4 pages of B-29 profiles.” IPMS/USA

“[The author’s] extensively researched every engagement between the MiGs and B–29s using records from the Central Archive of the Russian Ministry of Defense, written accounts of individual Soviet pilots, and US published sources.” The Journal of the Air Force Historical Foundation