Russian Aviation Colours 1909-1922 Book Review
By David L. Veres
| Date of Review | November 2018 | Title | Russian Aviation Colours 1909-1922 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Marat Khairulin | Publisher | Mushroom Model Publications |
| Published | 2018 | ISBN | 9788365281982 |
| Format | 128 pages, hardbound | MSRP (GBP) | £30.00 |
Review
Marat Khairulin completes MMP's splendid study of Russian Aviation Colours 1909-1922 with volume 4: "Against Soviets".
This time, coverage "examines in detail the recognition and national markings, as well as the emblems, of the air force of the White formations in the south, northwest, west, north and east of Russia".
Text traverses the total topic in six intensely illuminating, immensely informative sections:
1. Southern Aviation Forces
- The Volunteer Army
- Naval Aviation of the Volunteer Army
- Almighty Don Host
- Kuban' Cossack Host
- Forces of the Trans-Caspian Region
2. Russian Army Aviation
3. North-Western Army Aviation
4. Western Volunteer Army Aviation
5. White North Russia Aviation
- Slavo-British Aviation Corps
- Murmansk Aviation Division
- Northern Front 1st Aviation Otryad
6. White East Russia Aviation
- People's Army
- Kolchak's All-Russian Government Forces
- Semënov's Russian Eastern Periphery Forces
And what a sumptuous visual smorgasbord it is.
A plethora of photos, color profiles, plan views and insets illustrate the evolution of anti-Bolshevik aviation markings. Body text – authoritatively mined from primary sources and personal collections – recaps key developments. And extended captions identify and explain nuances of accompanying images.
Admirably annotated, contents come packed with fascinating facts. Did you know that over 100 Anatra Anasal' biplanes were "built to an order of the Austrian HQ" – some of which eventually passed to the Kuban' Cossack Host?
Modelers will certainly savor project possibilities.
How about that Don Forces Nieuport 23 with black triangular insignia and spooky caricature of Trotsky as a bat-wing devil? Or that Georgian air force Sopwith Camel? Or that Albatros C.XV with mix of Imperial Russian and Western Volunteer Corps "eight-pointed cross" insignia?
Many other profiles depict interventionist equipment – British, American, and others. That Czechoslovak LWF model V in US 1919 star markings certainly grabbed my attention.
MMP has set world standards with Russian Aviation Colours 1909-1922. Get all four volumes.
Roundly recommended!
I want to thank MMP for this review copy.