F-105 Thunderchief MiG Killers of the Vietnam War

Description

Despite its 'F-for-fighter' designation, the F-105 was designed and purchased to give the USAF an aircraft capable of the delivery of nuclear weapons at very high speed, long range and below-the-radar altitudes. However, when the Vietnam War began it also emerged as USAF's best available tactical bomber for a 'limited conventional' war as well. Extensively targeted by MiG-17s and MiG-21s the F-105 pilots developed innovative tactics that allowed them to compete in air-to-air duels with their smaller, more manoeuvrable enemies. Illustrated throughout with extensive photographs detailing weapon loads, internal features and action shots of actual engagements, this volume examines the conduct of the Rolling Thunder strike missions and the tactics used for attack and defence by the attack, escort fighter and radar monitoring elements within strike formations.

Peter E Davies has published 20 books and several magazine articles, concentrating on modern combat aircraft and the Vietnam War. He has written eight previous Osprey titles and co-authored two others, with two of the latter on the F-105. Jim Laurier is a native of New England, growing up in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. He has been drawing since he could hold a pencil and throughout his life he has worked in many mediums creating artwork on a variety of subjects. He has worked on the Osprey Aviation list since 2000, and in that time he has produced some of the finest artwork seen in these volumes. He has specialised in aircraft of the Vietnam War period.

"Peter Davies superbly summarizes this MiG-killing record in Osprey'sF-105 Thunderchief MiG Killers of the Vietnam War. Beginning with a chapter dedicated to the Thunderchief's development and early operational history, subsequent sections in Davies' instructive narrative interweave data on F-105 pilots' training and tactics with dramatic descriptions of MiG battles. Decidedly recommended." --Rachel E. Veres, www.cybermodeler.com