Author: Peter E. Davies
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1849082553
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 96
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Book Description
The combat history of the F-105 Thunderchief units during the Vietnam War, detailing the strengths and weaknesses of the aircraft, and the difficulties it faced during many months of dangerous combat. Facing the most formidably concentrated air defences in history, pilots of the F-105D flew against North Vietnamese targets day after day during the 43 months of Operation Rolling Thunder. Despite its limited maneuverability and the lack of self-sealing fuel tanks, which made it susceptible to combat damage, the 'bombers' shot down 27 MiG fighters in 1966 – 67. This book illustrates the importance of the Thunderchief in the Rolling Thunder campaign, including the pioneering suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD) methods developed by the F-105 'Wild Weasel' crews. Discussing the aircraft's strengths and weaknesses and using first-hand narratives, Peter Davies captures the essence of flying the 'Thud' against heavy defences, and describes the development of wartime tactics and the heroic accomplishments of a selection of its aircrew.
Author: Peter E. Davies
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1782008063
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 216
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Book Description
An illustrated history of the F-105's success against MiGs, a relatively little-known aspect of the Vietnam War and a testament to the jet's versatility and the skill of the pilots involved. 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.
Author: Peter E. Davies
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1782006990
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 224
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Book Description
Featuring first-hand accounts from the men flying it, and the men on the ground relying on it for protection, an illustrated history of the unique role played by this aircraft in the war in Vietnam, right up to its possible role in a tactical nuclear strike and as a mobile nuclear deterrent. The F-100 Super Sabre may have been superseded by the superior technology of the F-105 Thunderchief and the F-4 Phantom, but by the Vietnam War it remained in service. The Super Sabre was deployed as an air defence fighter, and was later given nuclear capability. The F-100's toughness, adaptability and reliability made it ideal for the incessant missions that were demanded by close support and counter-insurgency missions. 242 Super Sabres and 87 aircrew were lost during the war but their role, particularly in developing the tactics used for discovering and destroying SAM sites, was invaluable. This book describes some of the most important actions that the F-100 took part in, looks at the pilots who flew it and analyses the impact of the aircraft on the war.
Author: John M. Campbell
Publisher: Schiffer Military History
ISBN: 9780764300622
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 176
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Book Description
Information is included as to where each plane served, who flew it and the ultimate fate of each THUD. Contains photographs of different serial numbers, including the two F-105s that were flown on Medal of Honor missions.
Author: Peter Mersky
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1782006540
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 193
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Book Description
Featuring many first-hand accounts from the pilots who flew one of the greatest attack aircraft ever built, an insightful account of some of the most thrilling aerial combats that took place during Vietnam. The Skyhawk was involved in Vietnam from the very beginning, including the first offensive operations in 1963 into Laos, and the Pierce Arrow operations immediately following the Tonkin Gulf Incident of August 1964. Navy and Marine Corps A-4s quickly established a presence in south-east Asia participating in thousands of sorties against the entrenched communist forces in the South and the heavily defended targets in North Vietnam. A-4 pilots also struck targets along the infamous Ho Chi Minh Trail, working with ground-based and airborne forward air controllers to interdict the flood of supplies to communist forces in the south. Alongside stunning illustrations, the author traces the history of this plane and its exploits.
Author: Victor Vizcarra
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781781556450
Category : Thunderchief (Jet fighter plane)
Languages : en
Pages : 160
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Book Description
Thud Pilot is the personal account of a combat fighter pilot who flew the Air Force's premier fighter-bomber in the most dangerous skies over North Vietnam. In the first five years of the Vietnam War, the F-105 Thunderchief conducted 75 percent of the Air Force bombing missions over North Vietnam. Thud Pilot tells the story of the courageous men who flew the F-105 from its earliest combat deployment in 1964, and on through 1966, the year of its heaviest losses. The author's more significant missions, including his ejection and rescue over North Vietnam are described in detail and are accompanied by map drawings depicting the mission routes from take-off to refueling orbits, the target, and return. The book is full of several 'firsts' in the expanding air war over North Vietnam, including 'Operation Spring High, ' the first counter Surface-to-Air-Missile (SAM) strike in the history of aerial warfare. The personal perspective from years of combat experience reveals just how the political mismanagement and inane Rules of Engagement made them as much the hunted as they were the hunters. Thud Pilot goes beyond the battle air space and shares the emotional impact on the families left behind.
Author: Rick Morgan
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1849087563
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 96
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Book Description
The complete story of A-6 combat operations during the Vietnam War, illustrated throughout. Designed in the years following the Korean War and then manufactured for over 30 years starting in 1960, the A-6 quickly became the most capable attack aircraft in the US Navy's stable. The first squadron, VA-75, made its initial deployment directly into combat in south-east Asia in 1965, and, over the next eight years, ten US Navy and four Marine Intruder squadrons would conduct combat operations throughout Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. After initial problems and a high loss rate, the type proved itself beyond all doubt as the Naval services' best night and foul-weather platform, particularly during the region's notorious monsoon season. The A-6 Intruder became a true classic of naval aviation over the skies of North Vietnam but the cost was high as 69 Intruders were lost in combat to all causes during the war. This work tells the complete story of these aircraft in combat during the Vietnam War.
Author: Peter E. Davies
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 178096174X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 67
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Book Description
The Republic F-105 Thunderchief was the fastest and most successful strike fighter of the Cold War. Designed to deliver nuclear weapons at low altitude and then fight its way back to base, by the early 1960s it was the primary weapon in the USAF's tactical strike arsenal. Thunderchief pilots in Europe, the Far East and the USA stood on short-notice alert, ready to take on the formidable defenses of their Communist Bloc targets. The F-105 was, however, to become a legend in a very different conflict. As direct American involvement in Vietnam increased, F-105s were deployed – initially as a deterrent, but ever more as conventional attack fighters against insurgency in Laos and Vietnam. With the start of the bombing campaign against North Vietnam, the Thunderchief became a vital element in attacks against some of the most heavily defended territory in modern history.
Author: Peter E. Davies
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1782008055
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 96
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Book Description
An illustrated history of the F-105's success against MiGs, a relatively little-known aspect of the Vietnam War and a testament to the jet's versatility and the skill of the pilots involved. 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.
Author: Jarosław Dobrzyński
Publisher: MMP
ISBN: 9788365281791
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :
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Book Description
An illustrated technical history of the Republic F-105 Thunderchief supersonic fighter-bomber used by the United States Air Force. F-105 conducted the majority of strike bombing missions during the early years of the Vietnam War. The book details the history of the development and service, as well as the technical description with special focus on avionics of this famous Cold War-era fighter bomber, whose primary role was to be nuclear weapon delivery, but instead saw widespread service as conventional bomber and interdictor during the Vietnam War. Its two seat trainer variant was converted to perform a new mission - suppression of enemy air defense (SEAD) - and proved highly effective in this role. After the Vietnam war, the type served with Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units until early 1980s. A rarely documented aspect of Cold War aviation history. Features superb color profiles of camouflage and markings, walk-around color photographs and rare b&w archive photographs.
