Рыбин, Ю. В. Советские асы на Харрикейнах в годы Второй Мировой Войны / Юрий Рыбин . – [Б. м. ] : Osprey Publishing, 2012. – 97 с. : ил., портр. – Англ. яз.

C HA PTE R FOUR 54 ARCTIC WAR HOTS UP F rom March 1942 the Arctic air war grew more and more intense as the weather improved. Luftwaffe bombers pounded the port of Murmansk and the raids became more ferocious with each passing day. It seemed as though the Germans were trying to force a conclusion to the campaign. Previous raids had targeted the port and shipping in the Kola Gulf, but now it was the city itself that was coming under attack. By May the pilots of JG 5 Eismeer had adopted the tactic of ‘clearing the skies’ over Murmansk in advance of the dive-bombers’ arrival. A few minutes before the Stukas commenced their diving attacks, Bf 109s would appear over the target and engage the patrolling Soviet fighters, enabling the Ju 87s to deliver their ordnance virtually unopposed. The Messerschmitt pilots were also active over Soviet airfields, waiting for the fighters to return. It was during these difficult conditions for Soviet pilots that a new star emerged. Snr Lt Petr Sgibnev commanded the 1st Squadron of 78th IAP. Just 21 years of age, he would become the highest scoring surviving ace of the polar theatre of operations following the death of the top Northern Fleet ace Boris Safonov on 30 May 1942 while defending the Allied convoy PQ-16. The highest scoring ace of JG 5 Eismeer during 1942 was Feldwebel Rudolf Muller. He was considered the top Hurricane-killer of the polar front, and he developed the risky tactic of breaking the defensive circle formed by Soviet pilots on encountering a force of Bf 109s. Credited w ith 92 victories in total, Muller's Hurricane tally stood at 35. He was forced down on the frozen surface of Lake Bolschoje following combat w ith 30-40 Soviet fighters over Murmansk on 19 April 1943 and subsequently captured. He later perished in captivity © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com