Lend-Lease and Soviet Aviation 1941-1945 Volume 3: Bombers, Transports, and Naval Aviation

The third volume of this four-part series examines the bombers, transports, and maritime aircraft supplied to the Soviet Union under the Lend-Lease programme. Drawing on extensive Soviet and Western archival sources, aviation historian Vladimir Kotelnikov provides the most detailed analysis yet of how these aircraft were delivered, adapted, and employed in combat across the Eastern Front and in Soviet naval operations. Central to this volume are the American Douglas A-20 Boston and North American B-25 Mitchell, which gave the Soviet Air Force a versatile and modern tactical bombing capability. Kotelnikov explores their delivery in large numbers, the training of Soviet crews, and the way they were integrated into existing units and doctrines. He analyses the missions flown—low-level strikes, interdiction, and close support—and assesses their performance in the face of formidable German defences. Equally important were the thousands of Douglas C-47 Skytrains (Dakotas), which became the backbone of Soviet transport aviation. The book considers their role in supplying the front, supporting partisan warfare, and enabling strategic mobility in a theatre where logistics often determined the outcome of campaigns. The study also highlights the contribution of Allied aircraft to Soviet naval aviation. From PBY Catalinas and other flying boats used in Arctic waters, to long-range patrol and convoy escort operations, these machines extended Soviet maritime reach at a critical stage of the war. Illustrated with colour profiles, hundreds of rare photographs, maps, and technical tables, this volume offers a richly detailed portrait of how Allied bombers, transports, and maritime aircraft shaped Soviet combat power. It demonstrates their essential role in sustaining the Red Air Force and Navy in the struggle against the Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine, and in laying the groundwork for postwar Soviet aviation development.