Emelianenko, Vassili Étoile Rouge contre Croix Noire

Pilote de Sturmovik sur le Front de l'Est

During the Second World War, experienced pilot Vasily Emelianenko (19122008) flew one of the Soviet Union's most feared aircraft: the Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik. This heavily armoured aircraft was virtually unrivalled in terms of firepower, but it was difficult to manoeuvre and an easy target for fighters. The Il-2 had to attack enemy targets from very low altitudes, which led to enormous losses of equipment and personnel. It is therefore not surprising that after 80 combat missions against the Germans, Vasily Emelianenko received the highest award: the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. He flew a total of 92 missions. His aircraft was shot down three times, and each time he managed to return to base, demonstrating remarkable resilience and courage in terrifying circumstances. Written in a lively tone, Vasily Emelianenko's memoirs offer a rare insight into the reality of combat on the Eastern Front and the tactics of the Soviet Air Force. He recounts with remarkable clarity the difficulties and consequences of fighting an enemy that was as skilled as it was increasingly desperate. Encounters with enemy fighter planes, emergency landings in enemy territory and the loss of close friends are described in a dramatic and moving way in this rare eyewitness account.