US Navy F-4 Phantom II Units of the Vietnam War 1969-73

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.

Although the F-4 Phantom II was the most important fighter-bomber to see action with all three American services during the Vietnam War, it was essentially a U.S. Navy design, and the carrier-borne squadron crews were its main operators in combat.

The aircraft pioneered the use of long-range, radar-guided missiles in combat, although the majority of its Vietnam missions involved ground-attack with a variety of innovative ordnance. From 1968 to 1973 the Phantom II was the standard U.S. Navy fighter in Southeast Asia, having replaced several other types. Its performance and versatility enabled it to perform a variety of different missions, and switch roles as necessary, in the assault on some of the world’s most heavily defended territory.

Including detailed colour profiles and first-person commentary from active participants in the F-4’s naval combat history, this is a detailed study of the U.S. armed services’ most famous post-war fighter.

“"Davies presents a clear picture of what it was like for F-4 II crewmen when they hit problems in air-to-air, interdiction, and close support sorties. Along with striking targets in South Vietnam, carrier-based planes bombed North Vietnam and Laos. In addition to normal survival concerns, crewmen coped with problems ranging from frustration due to complex rules of engagement to the dealing with the rationale behind awarding medals. Davies emphasizes stories involving hunting and killing MIGs, the premier accomplishment of fighter jocks." - VVA Veteran”

"Davies presents a clear picture of what it was like for F-4 II crewmen when they hit problems in air-to-air, interdiction, and close support sorties. Along with striking targets in South Vietnam, carrier-based planes bombed North Vietnam and Laos. In addition to normal survival concerns, crewmen coped with problems ranging from frustration due to complex rules of engagement to the dealing with the rationale behind awarding medals. Davies emphasizes stories involving hunting and killing MIGs, the premier accomplishment of fighter jocks." --VVA Veteran

"I also have never seen described in such detail the complicated train of events of May 10, 1972, when U.S. fighter aircraft shot down 11 North Vietnam MiGs and U.S. forces lost two Air Force F-4s and two U.S. Navy aircraft during that war's most intense day of air-to-air combat. This new research should serve as a reference for historians and enthusiasts alike." --Naval Aviation News

"This is a new history is to be used as a reference by historians and enthusiasts alike." --Wings of Gold Magazine

Peter E Davies has published 27 books concentrating on modern combat aircraft and the Vietnam War. He has written 17 previous Osprey titles and co-authored two others. Four of these have concentrated on the U.S. Navy’s use of the F-4 Phantom II and another of his books, running to 250 pages on this topic for American publisher Schiffer, is still selling 14 years after publication. All of Peter's books on this topic have contained extensive input from interviews with more than 100 former US Navy Phantom II aircrew, maintainers and mission planners. He lives in Bristol, UK.

Jim Laurier is a native of New England, growing up in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. He has been drawing since he could hold a pencil and throughout his life he has worked in many mediums creating artwork on a variety of subjects. He has worked on the Osprey Aviation list since 2000 and in that time he has produced some of the finest artwork seen in these volumes. He has specialised in aircraft of the Vietnam War period. He lives in New Hampshire, USA.

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