MiG-21 Aces of the Vietnam War cover

Description

Having learned their trade on the subsonic MiG-17, pilots of the Vietnamese People's Air Force (VPAF) received their first examples of the legendary MiG-21 supersonic fighter in 1966. Soon thrown into combat over North Vietnam, the guided-missile equipped MiG-21 proved a deadly opponent for the US Air Force, US Navy and US Marine Corps crews striking at targets deep in communist territory.

Although the communist pilots initially struggled to come to terms with the fighter's air-search radar and weapons systems, the ceaseless cycle of combat operations quickly honed their skills. Indeed, by the time the last US aircraft (a B-52) was claimed by the VPAF on 28 December 1972, no fewer than 13 pilots had become aces flying the MiG-21. Fully illustrated with wartime photographs and detailed colour artwork plates, and including enthralling combat reports, this book examines the many variants of the MiG-21 that fought in the conflict, the schemes they wore and the pilots that flew them.

Table of Contents

Introduction /Learning the 'Balalaika' /Early Battles /The Crowded Sky /Facing New Threats /Linebacker /Gathering Momentum /Appendices /Colour Plates Commentary /Bibliography /Index

Product details

Published 21 Sep 2017
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Extent 96
ISBN 9781472823540
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 70 b/w; 30 col
Series Aircraft of the Aces
Short code ACE 135
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

István Toperczer

István Toperczer is a flight surgeon with the Hung…

Cover illustrator

Gareth Hector

Gareth Hector is a digital artist of international…

Illustrator

Jim Laurier

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

Resources

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