January Book Vote and Last Month's Results

We would like to apologise for the glitch in the book vote. We are working to get this resolved as soon as we can. While we fix this issue, we have put this month's book vote here. We apologise for the inconvenience. 

To start our book vote in 2021, we're looking at five books from the Combat Aircraft series. As with every month, there are five books to choose between. Have a read of the descriptions and cast your vote!

Photographic Reconnaissance Spitfire Units of World War 2

Photographic reconnaissance (PR) versions of the Supermarine Spitfire ultimately saw service against the three main Axis antagonists of World War 2. Even though supplemented by the de Havilland Mosquito from 1941, the PR Spitfire served throughout the war and was to remain one of the RAF’s primary strategic reconnaissance platforms. Its superior performance even lead to the USAAF adopting the type for some of their own reconnaissance needs.

Bf 109 Jabo Units of World War 2 in the West

Beginning life primarily as a fighter, the Bf 109 passed through a number of phases occasioned by wartime necessity and became, apart from its continuing fighter activities, a highly-effective Jabo fighter-bomber which operated in the West from the latter stages of the Battle of Britain until well into the mid years of the war. A major part of its operations were strikes against military and other high-value targets in Britain. As such it was a significant part of the Luftwaffe’s arsenal and tied-up valuable Allied resources in countering its activities which were sorely needed elsewhere.

OV-10 Bronco Units in the Vietnam War

The North American/Rockwell OV-10 Bronco is arguably one of the most versatile combat aircraft ever flown. Initially conceived by two US Marine Corps aviators, the OV-10 became the world’s first purpose-built counter-insurgency aircraft. Primarily employed as a forward air control (FAC) platform, the Bronco was one of the few fixed-wing aircraft flown by the USAF, US Marine Corps and US Navy during the Vietnam War. In addition to FAC missions, Bronco crews flew close air support, armed reconnaissance, combat search and rescue, and inserted paratroopers using the type’s cargo compartment behind the cockpit. 

Vickers Wellington Units of Coastal Command

A staple aircraft of RAF Coastal Command from the spring of 1942, the humble Vickers Wellington was used as a dedicated long-range reconnaissance aircraft fitted with Air-to-Surface Vessel search radar and capable of torpedo-bombing. Also used in anti-mine warfare, and boasting a powerful Leigh Light for night anti-U-boat attacks, the aircraft was built in a handful of marks that served with 14 Coastal Command squadrons from bases in Britain through to VE Day.

F-4 Phantom II Wild Weasel Units in Combat

Suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD) has been a vital element in warfare since the first year of the Vietnam War, and it required a succession of converted two-seat fighters (including the F-4Cww) to devise suitable responses to the deadly threat of radar-guided air defences. The culmination of this process was the introduction of the Wild Weasel 5 (F-4G Phantom II), which was the USAF’s key to neutralising these battlefield threats from 1979 to 1996, the aircraft playing a vital role in Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Northern Watch over Iraq.

Last month, we asked you what would you like to see published in our New Vanguard series. Thank you to everyone who voted and provided feedback. The results were very close, check out the full results below to find out more!

Did your favourite win? Which New Vanguard title did you vote for? Let us know in the comments.