The 8th and 12th airforce didnt land in Red Square and have their crews deploy as dismounted infantrymen, fighting with their pistols, so I’m not sure how the Moo Rescue is historical, it’s actually a brilliant bit of cheesebombing.
Its also a great way to let Japan win the game, since sending 200 IPCs across the game board to be used as cannon fodder will ensure a Japan income over 70. It sounds good on paper but the ##s cited are pretty out there, and if you really had 17 bombers acting as a group, you could lazer any fleet, factory or bastion on the board–that plan seems stronger than flying around the entire planet, to save a dying capital.
The reason “Russia always loses” is that it loses all its money, no matter how you defend Moscow. The big problem with patching/fixing the game is how do we make Russia hold out longer, and be harder to dismember, without making it so strong that it can’t be defeated when Germany (and the Axis) play some sub-optimal but fun strategy. Since there is only 1 critical path (G2/Crussia), the game devolves upon its least interesting playout, into “a question of how many turns to Moscow’s door”