World Battlefronts: BATTLE OF RUSSIA: Pokryshkin Wins

A Red flyer named Pokryshkin roared head on at a slim-bodied Junkers, shot upward, swerved right, then banked sharply, with his guns blazing. The German bomber fluttered down, trailing smoke. At a Red Air Force headquarters, a 35th digit was marked against the name of Major Alexander Pokryshkin. Across the breadth of Russia, men & women grinned and muttered: "Molodets paren"—atta boy. For to them, Alexander Pokryshkin is one of the war's top air heroes.

Hero Pokryshkin worked his way from the ground: he began as a mechanic at an airfield, shifted...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!