Product Description

First seeing action in the wake of the German invasion of the USSR in June 1941, the Royal Rumanian Air Force had been allied to the Luftwaffe since the Romanian government signed a Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy in November 1940. This book reveals how, despite suffering heavy losses to the numerically superior Russian forces, the Rumanians inflicted even greater casualties on the communists. Locked in bitter conflict with the Soviets until September 1944, when the Red Army poured across the Rumanian frontier and forced an armistice, the modest fighter force claimed 1500+ kills using primarily Bf 109's, E’s.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #335621 in Books
• Published on: 2003-06-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 96 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781841765358
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From the Publisher
Osprey's Aircraft of the Aces series combines full colour artwork, the best archival contemporary photography, and first hand accounts from aces to bring history's greatest airborne conflicts to life.

About the Author
Canadian national Dénes Bérnad has specialised in studying Romanian and Eastern European military aviation during World War 2 for the past 25 years. A mechanical engineer by profession , he is also a founding member of the Association to Promote the History of Rumanian Aviation (Bucharest, Romania) and Hungarian Association of Aviation History (Budapest, Hungary).

Customer Reviews

Long overdue book!
A little-known story of great courage, skill and patriotism! A long awaited publication. Full of interesting details, great photographs and stunning colour plates of World War II planes. A joy to read!

Very even-handed
Unlike, say, the same book regarding Hungarian pilots (Hungarian=jingoistic; and I say this having been to Hungary and having enjoyed myself immensely-though pre-financial collapse), this book is a fascinating & even-handed look at the air war over Romania. It was far more than just Ploesti, although its hard to just devote 10-20 pages (or so) to such a significant event in USAAF-USAF history. Its only with the drop of the Iron Curtain that I've come to appreciate the Me-109 as something more than a 2nd rate FW-190. A very versatile & effective plane!

Rumania or Romania?
Joining Germany in the invasion of Poland in 1939, the Rumanians were using the Polish PZL built P.11 gull winged plane!
The Rumanians needed better aircraft than the Hurricane Mk.I and P.11/24, such as the Bf-109. Also using the IAR-80/-81, the plane was easily downed by enemy flak or fighters. But the Bf-109 was a tougher nut to crack. The IAR-80 was used `hard and heavy' by the Rumanians, but with the Yak fighters improving, the Rumanians had to change from their older, weaker, planes to new ones. Being pummeled almost daily by USAAF bombers. The escorts were a problem to the attacking Bf-109s and IAR-80s--especially the P-51!

This is the first book from Denes Bernad, and if he publishes any more books like this, I'll buy 'em! I shot threw this book. I couldn't stop reading it! He's almost tied with George Mellinger and John Weal!! The color plates of He-112s, Bf-109s, IAR-80/-81s, P.11/.24s, Hurricanes and a Bf-110 and Hs-129 are very well done. I was happy to see at the end of the book he has the top 4 Rumanian aces. I found this book a pleasure to read.
1 question though: Is it Rumania or Romania?