Marine Corps Fighter Squadron 214 was hastily organized in the field during World War II to meet the urgent need for another combat squadron in the South Pacific.
Much has been written about the famous fighters and bombers of the Luftwaffe which proved so successful in the invasion of Poland, the Battle of France, the Battle of Britain and in the early operations in Eastern Europe.
When the revolutionary twin jet-powered Arado Ar 234 first appeared in the skies over north-west Europe in the summer of 1944, it represented the state-of-the-art in terms of aeronautical and technical development.
Unquestionably the best American fighter of World War 2, the North American P-51 Mustang served in large numbers with the USAAF's Eighth Air Force from late 1943 until VE Day, and was the mount of most aces in-theatre.
South African Mirages and Cuban MiG-21s dogfighting over Cuito Cuanavale, the largest tank battle on African soil since El Alamein; Puma troopships shot out of the skies by Strela missiles and RPG-7 rockets; Alouette III gunships hovering menacingly above Koevoet tracker-combat teams as they close in for the kill; Hercules and Transall transports disgorging their loads of Parabats over Cassinga; suicidal helicopter hot extractions of Recce operators deep in enemy territory; and a lone Alouette pilot who disobeyed orders and under intense ground fire evacuated a critically wounded soldier … such is the story of the South African Air Force, the SAAF, over the 23-year period 1966-1989, the period of conflict that became known as the 'Border War'.
McDonnell's F-101 Voodoo series was in many ways the most interesting of the 'Century Series' fighter programmes of the 1950s, partly because the type's design and intended mission changed radically during a 40-year career.
The Great War tore the fabric of Europe apart, killing over 35 million men and challenging the notion of heroism in war, Air and Sea Power in World War I focuses on the experience of World War I from the perspective of British pilots and sailors themselves, to demonstrate that the army-centric view of war studies has been too limited.
A detailed history of the F-4 Phantom II, the USAF workhorse fighter-bomber for the Linebacker campaign, which eventually saw US forces withdraw from Vietnam 'with honour' in 1973.
A major revision of our understanding of long-range bombing, this book examines how Anglo-American ideas about "e;strategic"e; bombing were formed and implemented.
Using diary entries, interviews and first-hand accounts, this vivid narrative brings to life the struggle in the air over the island of Guadalcanal between August 20 and November 15, 1942.
The second of two books on the Navy's Phantom II MiG killers of the Vietnam War, this book covers the numerous actions fought out over North Vietnam during the Linebacker I and II operations of 1972-73.
The story of what really led to Germany losing the battle of Stalingrad - the inability of the Luftwaffe to keep Sixth Army supplied throughout the winter of 1942 43 - and why this crucial airlift failed.
In the 1930s, as nations braced for war, the German military build up caught Britain and the United States off-guard, particularly in aviation technology.
A suspense-filled real-life drama perfect for veterans and fans of military dramas alike, the author interweaves her memories as a Navy pilot's wife with the tale of what happened to her husband's crew after having to ditch their crippled plane in stormy North Pacific waters during the Cold War.
Essentially a development of the Avro Lancaster via the later Lincoln, the Avro Shackleton was the RAF’s first line of defence in the maritime role from 1951 for twenty years, thereafter continuing to serve as an airborne early warning aircraft for another twenty, until 1991.
A detailed study of one of the US's most famous post-war aircraft, the F-4 Phantom, which saw service in three branches of the US military during the Vietnam War.
A history of the US Navy's remarkable 1945 South China Sea raid against the Japanese, the first time in history that a carrier fleet dared to rampage through coastal waters.
Totally outnumbered throughout their short two-year sojourn in the Western Desert, the crack fighter pilots of the handful of Jagdgeschwader in-theatre fought an effective campaign in support of Rommel's Afrika Korps against the British and American forces.
In this book, aviation expert Chris Thomas - inspired to research Typhoons by his own father, who flew numerous raids in a Typhoon during World War 2 - extols the great importance of the Typhoon wings in the ultimate Allied victory in Europe.
Using black and white contemporary photographs, illuminative maps and stunning battle scene illustrations, this comprehensive, detailed account completes the story of the Guadalcanal campaign - possibly the most important of the whole Pacific War.
The Birth of British Airpower describes how Hugh Trenchard, a man with few leadership skills, became a much-loved and inspirational commander who laid the foundation for British airpower on the Western Front in World War I and created the preconditions for the establishment of the world's first independent air service, the Royal Air Force.
The period covered in this volume was considered to be the 'glory years' for the Jagdwaffe fresh from the experience gained in the Spanish Civil War and for the Bf 109 in particular.
The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that can be awarded to personnel in the United States' Armed Forces.
The fascinating story of World War II's forgotten strategic bombing campaign the RAF's perilous, long-range missions, flying from English bases against the industry, cities and dockyards of Mussolini's Italy.
This up-to-date volume straps the reader into the cockpit of the P-51B/C as the Mustang-equipped fighter groups of the 'Mighty Eighth' Air Force attempt to defend massed heavy bomber formations from deadly Luftwaffe fighters charged with defending the Third Reich.
The first volume of Roger Brooks detailed reference to the Victor covers the conception, design and test-flying of the prototype HP 80 and then the production and operation of the Mark 1 in its many roles.
NATIONAL BESTSELLER The definitivehistory of combat aviation andfighter aircraft, from World War I to present INCLUDES 32 PAGES OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND 12 MAPSLords of the Skyisthe dramatic, fast-paced, and definitive"e; (Michael Korda) history of fighter pilots and aircraftand their extraordinary influence on modern warfare,masterfully written by "e;one of the most decorated pilots in Air Force history (New York Post).
At the start of the twentieth century the United States led the world in advances in aviation, with the first successful engine-powered flights at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and Dayton, Ohio, beginning in 1903.
On June 28, 1976, into the all-male bastion of the United States Air Force Academy 157 women stepped, challenging the slogan over the entrance ramp that read "e;Bring Me Men.
First envisioned by Leonardo da Vinci and first deployed in World War II, the helicopter is now a universal icon of modern warfare, a key component of combat planning around the world, and one of the military's most versatile and effective tools.
In Harrier Boys, Volume One: Cold War Through the Falklands, 1969-1990, Robert Marston, who flew Harriers for many years, draws together accounts from others who worked with this unique jet through its history.
Having been a part of the Fifteenth Air Force in 1944, author Bill Hess has written the definitive account on 'his air force', featuring photographs and illustrations throughout.
The Vickers Wellington was one of very few aircraft types to have been in production and frontline service throughout World War II, and more than 10,000 Wellingtons were built in the period.
Featuring specially commissioned full-color artwork, the story of the perilous glider assaults carried out by the men who sometimes led and sometimes followed World War II paratroopers onto their objectives.
