F-8 Crusader vs MiG-17 cover

Description

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.

Table of Contents

Introduction /Chronology /Design and Development /Technical Specifications /The Strategic Situation /The Combatants /Combat /Statistics and Analysis /Aftermath /Further Reading /Index

Product details

Published Nov 18 2014
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 80
ISBN 9781782008101
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 35 b/w; 20 col
Dimensions 248 x 184 mm
Series Duel
Short code DUE 61
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Peter Mersky

Peter Mersky is a retired Navy Commander with 23 y…

Illustrator

Jim Laurier

Jim Laurier is a native of New England and lives i…

Illustrator

Gareth Hector

Gareth Hector is a digital artist of international…

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