Overview

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.

Full Product Details

Author:   Peter E. Davies ,  Jim Laurier (Illustrator) ,  Gareth Hector (Illustrator)
Publisher:   Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Imprint:   Osprey Publishing
Volume:   125
Weight:   0.309kg
ISBN:  

9781472823601

ISBN 10:   1472823605
Pages:   96
Publication Date:   31 May 2018
Audience:   General/trade ,  Professional and scholarly ,  General ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
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Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Recap This chapter will very briefly recap on the combat introduction of the Phantom II by the first US Navy squadrons to be involved in the South East Asia conflict in 1964-65 Chapter 2 Bombing Halt Operations US Navy Seventh Fleet operations off Vietnam continued during the 1968 ‘bombing halt’, after which President Nixon began his policy of ‘Vietnamization’ Chapter 3 Increasing Action ‘Protective reaction’ strikes continued into 1971 with attacks by F-4s on anti-aircraft artillery positions protecting the trails network in South Vietnam, extending into North Vietnam where the increasing defences prompted calls for more destructive US responses Chapter 4 Combat For All From the beginning of 1972 it was clear that a North Vietnamese advance into South Vietnam was likely. MiG activity increased and the US Navy flew almost 100 ‘protective reaction’ strikes in the first quarter of the year against the massive North Vietnamese presence on the borders of the South. Six Phantom II squadrons were on station at the start of the year Chapter 5 Linebacker Two additional aircraft carriers were ordered to Yankee Station in mid-1972 for Linebacker, bringing four more Phantom II squadrons (including one US Marines Corps F-4J unit) to battle. Successes against VPAF MiGs continued throughout the rest of 1972 Appendices: - US Navy F-4 wartime squadron deployments, dates and carriers in 1969-73 - Plates Commentaries Index

Reviews

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

Author Information

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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