Volume 111 in Osprey’s Aircraft of the Aces series presents the interesting story of Russian Aces of World War I. The 96-page soft cover book is the result of author Victor Kulikov’s lifelong interest in Imperial Russian aviation in WWI. He is a recognized expert, having written articles on the subject for Windsock International, Cross & Cockade, Avions, Aero Journal and Over the Front, and co-authored Flying Machine Press’ massive hard cover book Imperial Russian Air Forces. In Osprey’s Russian Aces of World War I, Kulikov draws from recently sourced Russian military and private archives to detail the exploits of each of the aces in a thoroughly researched and well-written narrative combined with a number of previously unpublished period photos.

Although Russia had more than 200 military pilots and nearly as many aeroplanes in service at the beginning of the conflict, the small number of indigenes aircraft manufacturers required the nation to rely heavily on manufacturers in France and Britain. This meant pilots of Russian Imperial Army Air Service groups often found themselves engaging in combat with fewer aircraft than their adversaries, and in some that were relatively obsolete. Their story is one of individual courage, bravery, skill, and patriotism.

The Russian Imperial Army Air Service consisted of no more than four BAGs (Boevaya Aviatsionniy Gruppa – battle aviation groups), each controlling three or four smaller AOIs (Aviatsionniy Otryad Istrebitelei – fighter aviation detachments) and they were equipped with a variety of aircraft types, mostly French Nieuports and Spads. Nevertheless, its pilots gave a good account of themselves while facing a greater number of adversaries, claiming more than 200 Austro-Hungarian and German aircraft shot down, and resulting in thirteen of them achieving ace status.

The documented history of each of these 13 aces is presented within five chapters that address those who fought in the First Fighting Air Group, 7th Fighting Group, 9th Fighting Group, a number of other Fighting Air Groups, in Naval service and in French military aviation service. The narrative is easy to read, with detailed facts and the story is enhanced with 70 period photos and supported by 32 full-color aircraft illustrations (28 side profiles and 4 topside plans) by Harry Dempsey, rounded out with an appendix and full index.

This book is highly recommended to anyone with an interest in this unique period in aviation history. My thanks to Osprey Publishing and IPMS/USA for the opportunity to read and review it.