Air war over ...

[wannabetheace]

According to Robert Jackson "The Red Falcons: The Soviet Air Force In Action , 1919-1969" V.V.S. losses during the period July to September 1939 were 145 aircraft; whilst the various V.V.S. units claimed approx 300 Japanese aircraft.. As regards air force numbers Jackson mentions that the V.V.S. assembled, by the end of July, 580 aircraft including 125 SB-2's, 25 Tb-3's, 150 I-19's, 200 I-15's and I-152's, and 80 reconnaissance and transport aircraft. The Japanese had a total of 475 aircraft of all types, including the Ki-15 (recon), Ki-21, Ki-27 and Ki-30.

In Francillon's "Japanese Aircraft Of The Second World War" he mentions that the Japanese Army started the conflict with approximately 80 Ki-27 fighters, but at the peak of fighting in August the number had risen to 200. He also states that the Japanese Army claimed to have shot down 1,340 aircraft, with a further 30 destroyed on the ground, and that the Russians had committed up to 3,000 aircraft in the conflict during the five month conflict. The Russians counter-claimed of committing only 450 aircraft, and destroying 215 Japanese aircraft. The Japanese admitted the loss of 120 aircraft.

[Blackdog_kt]

This is one of the most interesting little known conflicts on the ground front as well, due to similarities that make it look like a precursor and "sneak preview" to WWII as well: it was one of the first (if not the very first) Japanese defeats occurring before WWII even started and it was brought about by Georgiy Zhukov, the same guy who commanded the armies capturing Berlin a few years later.

Thanks for the information, book recommendation and pictures