World War 2 War in the Air

In the first weeks of the German invasion of the Soviet Union, the Russian Air Force was nearly wiped out on the ground by the Luftwaffe, leaving Stalin with very few aircraft to fend off the German onslaught. The American and British allies rapidly sent fighters to help the Russians. British Hurricanes and American Airacobras were rushed into service defending Soviet airspace over the broad Russian steppe. Even a squadron of Free French pilots fought alongside their Soviet allies.