The Alaska-Siberia Connection: The World War II Air Route

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For three years during World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union maintained a difficult air pipeline from the northern states, via Alaska and Siberia, almost to the Urals. The Lend-Lease fighters and bombers that were funneled through this route eventually made up 12 percent of the Red Air Force and devastated Hitler's legions. Hays, a onetime military intelligence officer with the Alaska Defense Command, shows how this joint Allied effort triumphed over deep mutual suspicions, totally different cultures, and some of the world's most savage weather. His workmanlike study is crammed with operational and political details, historical perspective, and personalities. Although the human element is touched upon, the book is curiously light on anecdote; nor does it have many of the technical details that delight the airplane buff. Even so, it is the first book wholly dedicated to this subject. This authoritative account is one of many new history titles benefiting from access to long-closed military sources.

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