Description
Product ID: | 9781780963136 |
Product Form: | Paperback / softback |
Country of Manufacture: | IN |
Series: | Combat Aircraft |
Title: | F-104 Starfighter Units in Combat |
Authors: | Author: Peter E. Davies, Rolando Ugolini, Gareth Hector |
Page Count: | 96 |
Subjects: | History, History, Military history, Warfare and defence, Air forces and warfare, Military vehicles, Military history, Warfare & defence, Air forces & warfare, Military aircraft |
Description: | Select Guide Rating Although built in small numbers for the USAF, the F-104C fought and survived for almost three years in Vietnam. This book covers the technical characteristics of the F-104 Starfighter, one of the most widely-used and popular aircraft in history. It also features photographs detailing the variety of nose-paint schemes and weapons configurations. The ''missile with a man in it'' was known for its blistering speed and deadliness in air combat. The F-104C flew more than 14,000 combat hours in Vietnam as a bomber escort, a Wild Weasel escort and a close air support aircraft. Though many were sceptical of its ability to carry weapons, the Starfighter gave a fine account of itself in the close air support role. It was also well known that the enemy were especially reluctant to risk their valuable and scarce MiGs when the F-104 was escorting bombers over North Vietnam or flying combat air patrols nearby. The missions were not without risk, and 14 Starfighters were lost during the war over a two-year period. This was not insignificant considering that the USAF only had one wing of these valuable aircraft at the time, and wartime attrition and training accidents also took quite a bite from the inventory. |
Imprint Name: | Osprey Publishing |
Publisher Name: | Bloomsbury Publishing PLC |
Country of Publication: | GB |
Publishing Date: | 2014-11-20 |