The author of this book—one of the best of the “Stalin’s falcons,” Hero of the Soviet Union F. F. Arkhipenko—made his first combat sortie on June 22, 1941, on a “Chaika” (Seagull) biplane, the I-153. He shot down his first “Messerschmitt” as early as August while flying the heavy, clumsy “LaGG.” Later he fought on “Yaks” and “Airacobras,” reached Berlin, and recorded 30 personal victories and 14 group victories to his combat account. His memoirs, included in the “golden fund” of accounts of the Great Patriotic War, are illustrated not only with photographs from his personal archive, but also with extensive excerpts from his flight logbook—where a detailed record was kept of every sortie, air battle, and enemy aircraft shot down.