Germany's early advance through the Soviet Union had been fierce and unstoppable, thanks in part to the air superiority that the Wehrmacht had attained over the region.

As both factions ardently fought during five excruciating months in the Battle of Stalingrad, the Soviets would finally turn the table with Operation Uranus by encircling the invaders and pushing them back.

Despite the overwhelming victory, the Soviet High Command learned a brutal lesson in Stalingrad: the Luftwaffe significantly outclassed their own Air Force; if they wanted to hold their advantage and push the Nazis out of Russia, they would have to develop better warplanes immediately.

So began the development of the Yak 3, the smallest fighter used in World War 2 and an aircraft that would give the Luftwaffe a run for its money.

As the tiny, nimble fighter entered the battlefield of the Eastern Front in the summer of 1944, the German commanders were stunned by what the modest plane could do, and they were forced to issue an urgent order in a frantic attempt to stop the new Soviet threat…

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Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.

As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible.

All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.