Description

Osprey's study of the role played by F-8 Crusader Units in the Vietnam War (1955-1975). Known to its pilots as the 'last of the gunfighters' due to its quartet of Colt-Browning Mk 12 20 mm cannon, the F-8 Crusader was numerically the most populous fighter in the US Navy at the start of America's involvement in the Vietnam conflict in 1964 – some 482 F-8C/D/Es equipped 17 frontline units. It enjoyed great success against North Vietnamese Mig-17s and Mig-21s during the Rolling Thunder campaign of 1965-68, officially downing 18 jets, which represented 53 per cent of all Mig claims lodged by Navy squadrons during this period.

Table of Contents

First Engagement
Setting Things Up
Making a War
Action in the Tonkin Gulf
War Begins in Ernest
MiG Killer
Assessing the Enemy
Beyond the MiGs
'Leatherneck' Crusaders, 1965-68
Final Word

Product details

Published Aug 28 1998
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 116
ISBN 9781855327245
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 100 b/w; 40 col
Dimensions 248 x 184 mm
Series Combat Aircraft
Short code COM 7
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Peter Mersky

Peter Mersky is a retired Navy Commander with 23 y…

Illustrator

Tom Tullis

Illustrator

Iain Wyllie

Illustrator

Mike Chappell

MIKE CHAPPELL comes from an Aldershot family with…

Illustrator

Mark Styling

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