Slovakian and Bulgarian Aces of World War 2 (Aircraft of the Aces, 58)

Rating:
Summary: Biased but useful
Review: The book presents useful data about Slovak air aces, though the political slant is at times annoying. Slovaks who fought for Hitler are "traitors," Slovaks who fought for Stalin "patriots."
Perhaps Tiso's Slovakia was a "puppet" regime, but then so was
postwar Czechoslovakia.

The editors of the series could have worked more closely with the authors (who grew up in Communist Czechoslovakia and seemingly were brainwashed there)to edit out such bias. But, though annoying, the slant does not detract from the usefulness of the book, since little information on Slovak air aces is available otherwise. I would have welcomed a brief biographical dictionary, though, for all aces, instead of just 3 of them.

Rating:
Summary: More Gold from Osprey
Review: Typically well-produced in Osprey fashion, this volume covers (mainly)Slovakian and Czech uprising air units and pilots; by comparison the Bulgarian half is somewhat short-changed. I would have liked a little more on the early (39-40) period included in the Bulgarian coverage. However, many of the photos (and color illustrations) are new to me, including a unique Dewoitine 520 in Bulgarian markings with a Luftwaffe-style winkel and bars (the French magazine Avions, which arrived the next day and has an article on Bulgarian 520's, shows the rudder as white, the Osprey shows it as yellow, take your choice). Well worth the price.