A history of the participation of the United States naval air forces in the Vietnamese War features depictions of the experiences of pilots and their crews

Naval Air War in Vietnam

Literature & Fiction

Mersky, Peter

POLMAR, Norman

MERSKY, PETER /POLMAR

United States

Zebra Books

Product Description 
A highly detailed, illustrated history of the A-7 Corsair II and its service from the end of the Vietnam War through to Desert Storm.At the A-7 Corsair II's peak in the mid-1980s, some 30 US Navy squadrons flew various versions of the aircraft, including six Naval Air Reserve units, and many of these units saw action across the Middle East. By the time the jet saw combat in Operation Desert Storm (1991), there remained only two fleet squadrons--many fleet squadrons having either disestablished or transitioned to the F/A­18 Hornet--but both of these units (VA-46 and VA-72) played a major role in the campaign to free Kuwait.The book details the technological development and improvements that were introduced to the airframe post-Vietnam (the FLIR targeting pod from 1979 and AGM-88 HARM missile from 1983 being the most important), and how they shaped operational employment of the aircraft. The jet's combat experiences in conflicts during the 1970s (Cambodia), 1980s (Lebanon, Grenada, Libya, and Iran), and 1990s (Iraq) are explained in detail, and Peter Mersky's expert analysis is supported by numerous first-hand accounts from naval aviators that saw action with the A-7 during these campaigns. 
 About the Author 
Peter Mersky is a retired Navy Commander with 23 years service on active duty and in the reserves. He has flown in many of the aircraft he has written about, including the A-7, and was a writer then the editor of 
Approach, the Navy and Marine Corps aviation safety magazine.\nJim Laurier is a native of New England and lives in New Hampshire. He attended Paier School of Art in Hamden, Connecticut, from 1974–78, and since graduating with Honours, he has been working professionally in the field of Fine Art and Illustration. He has been commissioned to paint for the US Air Force and has aviation paintings on permanent display at the Pentagon.\nGareth Hector is a digital artist of international standing as well as an aviation history enthusiast. Gareth completed the battlescene and cover artwork in this title. He lives in Perthshire, UK.\nHaving initially worked for Osprey as an author in the 1980s, Tony Holmes became the company's aviation editor in 1989 after he moved to England from Western Australia. Responsible for devising the Aircraft of the Aces, Combat Aircraft, Aviation Elite Units, Duel and X-Planes series, Tony has also written more than 30 books for Osprey over the past 35 years.

A-7 Corsair II Units 1975-91 (Combat Aircraft, 135)

History

Military

Osprey_Publishing

This book covers the actions fought between two of the best known fighters of the Vietnam War, in action over the North during the early years of the conflict.
Revered by Naval Aviators as the "last of the gunfighters" due to its quartet of Colt-Browning Mk 12 20 mm cannon (its great naval rival, the F-4 Phantom II, was exclusively armed with missiles), the F-8 Crusader enjoyed great success against VPAF MiG-17s during the Rolling Thunder campaign of 1966-68. The fighter was credited with 18 kills, 14 of which were MiG-17s. Things did not go all the Crusader's way, however, as VPAF pilots used the MiG-17's unequalled low-speed manoeuvrability, small size and powerful cannon armament to take the fight to their gun- and missile-equipped foes. The North Vietnamese pilots claimed ten F-8s and one unarmed photo-recce RF-8 shot down, although only four of these successes could be matched with known US Navy losses. Nevertheless, the duels fought between these two aircraft were some of the hardest of the war, as the Crusader pilots did their level best to defend vulnerable carrier-based attack aircraft striking at targets deep in North Vietnam.

F-8 Crusader vs MiG-17: Vietnam 1965-72 (Duel, 61)

Seeing considerable combat in the nearly 50 years since its service introduction, the Skyhawk was involved in the Vietnam War (1955-1975) from the very beginning. Navy and Marine Corps A-4s quickly established a presence in Southeast Asia, flying from aircraft carriers and land bases in South Vietnam in thousands of sorties against the entrenched communist forces from Hanoi to the communist supply lines along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. This book includes details of missions including the siege of Khe Sanh, Lam Son and the contentious invasion of Laos and Cambodia in 1971 and gives a fascinating account of the variety of missions pilots were asked to perform. These operations were not without risk, and large numbers of A-4s were shot down and their pilots killed or, like Edward Alvarez, imprisoned as POWs for up to eight years in appalling conditions.
Officially endorsed by the Skyhawk Association and including first-hand accounts from veteran pilots who flew one of the greatest attack aircraft ever, Peter Mersky provides an insightful account of some of the most thrilling aerial combat missions that took place during Vietnam and the pilots who flew them. The first book to focus on the A-4's Vietnam service, this title is supported by previously unpublished colour and black and white photographs with 30 detailed colour profiles.

US Navy and Marine Corps A-4 Skyhawk Units of the Vietnam War 1963–1973 (Combat Aircraft, 69)

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.

F-8 Crusader Units of the Vietnam War (Osprey Combat Aircraft 7)

Although the Crusader was built first and foremost as a Navy interceptor, as has often been the tradition with US fighters, a photo-reconnaissance variant was also produced by Vought. The photo-bird's first operational test came in the autumn of 1962 when its overflights of Cuba alerted the world to the likely presence of medium-range ballistic missiles on the Caribbean island. The recce Crusader's next action came during the long years of the Vietnam War (1955-1975). This volume is the second of two in the Combat Aircraft series devoted to the Crusader, the first title (again by Peter Mersky) having covered the F-8 fighter variants, and their MiG-killing exploits, during the Vietnam War.

RF-8 Crusader Units over Cuba and Vietnam (Osprey Combat Aircraft 12)

This is the first account of the individual experiences and backgrounds of what many people consider to be the most successful group of combat aviators of the post-World War II era. More than just a general history of the Israel Air Force, this book presents, in chronological order, specific personal recollections of these highly trained, highly motivated pilots: the cream of their small nation's society. 
"Israeli Fighter Aces" recounts names, individual engagements, and individual claims with material never before seen in the West and only previously known to a small circle within the IAF. Never has such a wide window been opened on this unique and fascinating subject. 
Peter Mersky is known for his books and magazines on the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aviation.

Israeli Fighter Aces

Specialty Pr

RF-8 Crusaders Over Cuba and Vietnam

Osprey / Del Prado

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