F-8 Crusader vs MiG-17: Vietnam 1965-72

by Peter Mersky, Jim Laurier (Illustrator), Gareth Hector (Illustrator)

Overview

Revered by Naval Aviators as the 'last of the gunfighters' due to its quartet of Colt-Browning Mk 12 20 mm cannon, the F-8 Crusader enjoyed great success against VPAF MiG-17s during the Rolling Thunder campaign of 1966–68. But, the MiG-17's unequalled low-speed manoeuvrability, small size and powerful cannon armament meant that the American forces didn't have it all their own way. This fully illustrated book, featuring photographs, maps and battlescene artwork, reveals the tactics that were developed by pilots on both sides to give themselves the edge in air-to-air dogfights, allowing the reader to understand how the differing design and development doctrines played a part in combat.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781782008125
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	11/20/2014
Series:	Duel , #61
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	80
File size:	11 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Peter Mersky is a former US Navy commander who won the highest naval award for journalism following the publication of his two Crusader books in the Osprey Combat Aircraft series in 1998. He retired from the service in 2001 to become a full time aviation writer, and since then he has written two more volumes (A-4 Skyhawk and A-7 Corsair II) for the Osprey Combat Aircraft series. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia.

Jim Laurier attended Paier School of Art in Hamden, Connecticut, from 1974–78, and since graduating with Honours, he has been working 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. Gareth Hector is a digital artist of international standing as well as an aviation history enthusiast. Gareth completed the battlescene artwork and cover artwork.
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.
Jim 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.
Gareth Hector is a digital artist of international standing as well as an aviation history enthusiast. He lives in Perthshire, UK.

Table of Contents

Introduction 4

Chronology 8

Design and Development 10

Technical Specifications 18

The Strategic Situation 30

The Combatants 37

Combat 49

Statistics and Analysis 71

Aftermath 76

Further Reading 78

Index 80