Soviet Tactical Aviation

Book excerpt: At its height during the Cold War, Soviet tactical aviation was a large force of fighter, bomber, and attack air regiments with a high degree of readiness - many units stationed outside the Soviet Union saw actual combat. But, even as progressively more refined jet aircraft came into service - Yak-23, MiG-17 fighters and IL-28 tactical bombers, the attack aviation units still flew outdated IL-10 piston-engined aircraft well into the 1950s. Soviet pilots in combat over the People's Republic of China, North Korea, and Cuba, and their role in Eastern Europe combine with more than 500 color photographs, 50 color profiles, details of units, and insignia to give an in-depth look at this important era.