Description

An illustrated combat history of the 'last of the gunfighters', due to its quartet of Colt-Browning Mk 12 20 mm cannons.

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.

This book explores the history of this fighter and its pilots during the Vietnam War, alongside an array of contemporary photographs.

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 Nov 20 2012
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Extent 116
ISBN 9781782007166
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 100 b/w; 40 col
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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