Customer Reviews

Conflict in the Balkans 1991-2000 (Osprey Combat Aircraft 24)

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The book gives a good, general overview of how air power was utilized over the Balkans. However, there are bits of information that are incorrect. Also, this book does not recognize a few units/aicraft types that provided significant contributions to the air campaign.

One of the MiG-29 kills is accredited to the wrong callsign. Capt (now LtCol) Jeffery "Claw" Hwang is responsible for downing this particular aircraft. His wingman's callsign is labelled next to this kill. "Claw" is accredited with two kills; the other one is labelled correctly.

Also, not sure why, but there is no mention of US Navy F-14 contributions to the Balkan conflict (except one sentence on its use for reconnaissance). F-14s led the first strikes by the US Navy for Allied Force (successfuly destroying targets in Pristina) and identified SAM and AAA sites during these initial strikes for follow on missions. F-14s were also the first aircraft to utilize several new capabilities operationally, like Fleet Tactical Imagery which allowed them to transmit Battle Hit Assessment imagery to determine target destruction and threat assessment while they were still in the air. F-14s became the premier FAC(A) platforms as well, and were the heart of US Navy mixed section employment (F-14, F/A-18 sections). In particular, Fighter Squadron 14, with its eleven F-14s, led the highest number of strike missions in its carrier airwing and, even though it made up only 2.4% of all strike assets in theater, was responsible for the assessed destruction of 12% of all targets hit in Serbia. But there isn't a mention of any of this in this book.

Overall, this book is a very broad brush, status quo look at the Balkans Air Campaign. Recommended only to get a general overview.

Capt Hwang's 2 x kills have been verified by USAF sources that you can find on the web and the Allied Force F-14 stats and info can be found on US Navy sources on the web(all the USN F-14 info used above is from the Naval History and Heritage Command page for VF/VFA squadron command chronologies).