The remarkable, forgotten story of the RAF’s daring defence of the Soviet Union against the brutal Nazi onslaught of 1941.
About the Book
On 22 June 1941, Operation Barbarossa began, and the Soviet Union felt the full force of the German Blitzkrieg. As the Red Army retreated under relentless assault, Joseph Stalin made an urgent plea to the British government and Winston Churchill for aid against their common enemy.
By 27 July, Churchill had agreed to send two fighter squadrons to protect the vital, ice-free port of Murmansk, ensuring that the Arctic convoys could continue delivering essential supplies to keep the Soviet Union in the fight.
Former Hurricane and Typhoon pilot John Golley uncovers the extraordinary story of these squadrons, Nos 81 and 134, and how they successfully aided the Soviet Union at the point of its greatest need. Drawing on first-hand accounts from RAF pilots — four of whom were awarded the USSR’s equivalent of the Victoria Cross, the Order of Lenin — as well as senior Soviet officials, Golley has crafted a thoroughly researched, vividly told account of bravery, sacrifice, and wartime ingenuity.
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