Aleksandr I. Pokryshkin was a leading Soviet ace with 59 kills of which 48 came flying a P-39. He applied his own methods of attacking instead of the methods set out by the military. The military methods left the aircraft vulnerable to ground fire and German fighters but eventually Pokryshkin’s methods were adopted as standard practice. Aleksandr was also the C/O of the 9th GFD (Guards Fighter Division) formerly the 216th Fighter Division. This group had none less than 28 aces with a minimum of 15 kills while flying the P-39.