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Osprey Aircraft of the Aces #135
MiG-21 Aces of the Vietnam War
Having learned their trade on the subsonic MiG-17, pilots of the Vietnamese People's Air Force (VPAF) received their first examples of the legendary MiG-21 supersonic fighter in 1966. Soon thrown into combat over North Vietnam, the guided-missile equipped MiG-21 proved a deadly opponent for the US Air Force, US Navy and US Marine Corps crews striking at targets deep in communist territory.
Although the communist pilots initially struggled to come to terms with the fighter's air-search radar and weapons systems, the ceaseless cycle of combat operations quickly honed their skills. Indeed, by the time the last US aircraft (a B-52) was claimed by the VPAF on 28 December 1972, no fewer than 13 pilots had become aces flying the MiG-21. Fully illustrated with wartime photographs and detailed colour artwork plates, and including enthralling combat reports, this book examines the many variants of the MiG-21 that fought in the conflict, the schemes they wore and the pilots that flew them.
Although the communist pilots initially struggled to come to terms with the fighter's air-search radar and weapons systems, the ceaseless cycle of combat operations quickly honed their skills. Indeed, by the time the last US aircraft (a B-52) was claimed by the VPAF on 28 December 1972, no fewer than 13 pilots had become aces flying the MiG-21. Fully illustrated with wartime photographs and detailed colour artwork plates, and including enthralling combat reports, this book examines the many variants of the MiG-21 that fought in the conflict, the schemes they wore and the pilots that flew them.
- GenresAviation
202 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 21, 2017
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14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 19, 2019
Standard Osprey book that gives a good overall picture of subject, covers some details but not much. As with others it's an excellent book if you are vaguely interested in subject or as a starting point.
Book itself covers introduction of MiG-21 to VPAF, pilot training, development of doctrine both in terms of changes resulting from different characteristics MiG-21 had from MiG-17/19 and responses to evolving US tactics. Book provides plenty of vignettes where MiGs take on US warplanes, giving detailed account of dogfight only to conclude "US archives don't correspond to VPAF claims/US archives claim plane was shot down by AAA or SAM". So again, think of it all what you want and decide who to believe and trust more. Both sides had reasons to lie or exaggerate so I don't think any claim can be taken at face value.
Book itself covers introduction of MiG-21 to VPAF, pilot training, development of doctrine both in terms of changes resulting from different characteristics MiG-21 had from MiG-17/19 and responses to evolving US tactics. Book provides plenty of vignettes where MiGs take on US warplanes, giving detailed account of dogfight only to conclude "US archives don't correspond to VPAF claims/US archives claim plane was shot down by AAA or SAM". So again, think of it all what you want and decide who to believe and trust more. Both sides had reasons to lie or exaggerate so I don't think any claim can be taken at face value.
April 5, 2021
Well worth it
5 stars,I have read his hardcover book and thoroughly enjoyed that bar a couple of translation issues.This is of the same quality and not biased in anyway.I am sure though that it will have rocked a few Americans.
5 stars,I have read his hardcover book and thoroughly enjoyed that bar a couple of translation issues.This is of the same quality and not biased in anyway.I am sure though that it will have rocked a few Americans.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews