US Navy F-4 Phantom II MiG Killers 1971-73 (Osprey Combat Aircraft 30) (Part 2) [Paperback]

Brad Elward (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 19, 2002

The second of two books on the Navy's Phantom II MiG killers of the Vietnam War (1955-1975), this book covers the numerous actions fought out over North Vietnam during the Linebacker I and II operations of 1972-73. No fewer than 17 MiGs were downed during this period, five of them by the Navy's sole aces of the conflict, Lts Randy Cunningham and Willie Driscoll of VF-96. Drawing on primary sources such as surviving Phantom II aircrew and official navy documentation, the author has assembled the most precise appraisal of fighter operations involving US Navy Phantom II units and those elusive MiGs ever seen in print.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Osprey's Combat series combines the best archival photography available with specially commissioned artworks and first hand accounts, making these books favourites amongst historians, modellers and aviation enthusiasts everywhere.

About the Author

Brad Elward has broken into aviation journalism in the past two years, having had work published in such erstwhile periodicals as World Air Power Journal. This is his first book for Osprey. Peter Davies has written or co-written nine books on modern American combat aircraft, including the standard reference work on US Navy and Marine Corps Phantom II operations, ‘Gray Ghosts’. Based in Bristol, Peter is also presently working with Brad Elward on the follow-on volume on Navy F-4 MiG Killers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing Ltd. (August 19, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841762644
• ISBN-13: 978-1841762647
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 0.2 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #653,451 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Value for the Price!, August 10, 2005

By 

Michael OConnor "Wordsmith" (Wausau, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: US Navy F-4 Phantom II MiG Killers 1971-73 (Osprey Combat Aircraft 30) (Part 2) (Paperback)

In 1972 and 1973 Navy F-4s ruled the skies over North Vietnam, downing 24 MiGs while racking up a 12-to-1 kill ratio. Statistically EVERY time Navy F-4s clashed with VPAF MiGs, they kiiled at least one MiG. The outstanding record set by Navy F-4s during the Linebacker I and II campaigns is vividly chronicled in Elward and Davies' volume.

The Navy F-4 experience over North Vietnam in 1972 and 1973 was far different from the combats waged in the 1965-70 period. (See Osprey Combat Aircraft #26). During the Rolling Thunder years the kill-loss F-4 ratio steadily dwindled with many kills lost due to poorly peforming missiles, crews lacking in ACM training and poor radar controlling.

Fortunately, the Navy responded to its poor showing and through a variety of measures - the Ault Report, Have Drill/Have Doughnut MiG testing, Topgun, etc. - produced F-4 crews that became MiG Masters in 1972 and 1973.

Like their earlier Osprey volume on Navy F-4 MiG killers, Elward and Davies' book boasts many first-person narratives, rare photographs and great color profiles by Jim Laurier. Both volumes serve as useful and exciting introductions to Navy F-4 fighter ops over North Vietnam.

For more exhaustive works on the air war over North Vietnam, readers should check out Marshall Michel's excellent CLASHES book and the reviewer's own MIG KILLERS OF YANKEE STATION.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent account of Phantom Mig-Killing Operations in Vietnam, October 21, 2005

By 

Fung W. Wai King "charlielaw" (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: US Navy F-4 Phantom II MiG Killers 1971-73 (Osprey Combat Aircraft 30) (Part 2) (Paperback)

This is a superb volume (with U.S Navy Phantom Migh-Killers 1965-1970) on U.S navy Phantom operations in Vietnam with many rare photos and first person accounts. It tells how the U.S navy having learnt it's lesson with the poor performance in the Rolling Thunder Campaign, created Top Gun and resulting in much better kill ratio for Linebacker I & II.

5.0 out of 5 stars If you wanna know what it was like to rule the skies in 1972, GET THIS BOOK!, September 22, 2011

By 

I wish I was a fighter pilot! - See all my reviews

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This review is from: US Navy F-4 Phantom II MiG Killers 1971-73 (Osprey Combat Aircraft 30) (Part 2) (Paperback)

Great book! A must for enthusiasts of the air war over North Vietnam, in particular the US naval operations off Yankee Station in the Tonkin Gulf. Turn and burn baby, sierra hotel!!