Posters Artwork Documents

Aircobra Ace Alexandr Pokryshkin.

Government of the Russian Federation.

Russian postage stamp honoring one of the leading Soviet fighter aces and fighter tacticians of WW2, Alexandr Pokryshkin. Pokryshkin's official score was 59 Axis aircraft outright kills with 6 shared kills. His actual score was probably much higher, since Soviet attribution of kills tended to be awarded only if the kill could be confirmed by examination of physical remains - often not possible where the kill took place over established enemy-occupied areas. Pokryshkin revolutionized Soviet fighter tactics, encouraging his comrades to ignore the inappropriate engagement tactics used by the Soviet air force early in the war. Typically, this seems to have been interpreted by his superiors as something like "disobeying orders". He was slated from a (probably terminal) court martial, until his comrades pointed out the increasingly obvious fact that his tactical innovations actually worked. All being forgiven, Pokryshkin went on to be awarded the Order of the Hero of the Soviet Union three times (with Stars), four Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of Suvarov twice, and the Orders of the Patriotic War and of the Red Star twice each. He continued in the service postwar, and rose to the rank of Marshal of Aviation. Pokryshkin was an absolute devotee of the Bell Aircobra, and of its successor, the Kingcobra. He resisted a number of attempts to convert his commands to alternative fighters, and was not alone among Soviet aces in this. The Aircobra was lousy ? Well, depended on where you were, and what were your requirements. Best regards, JR.