Volume VI of the series covers the unit emblems and tactical aircraft markings of the forty-eight USAAF combat groups and eight squadrons that served in the China-Burma-India Theater and Western Pacific Area of Operations during WWII. Additional units covered include the Chinese-American Composite Wing and special AAF Air Task Forces that also served in the CBI. The three main Army Air Forces contained within this work are represented by over 1;200 images; including 272 unit insignia; both approved and unofficial designs; including any known variants. Both group and squadron tactical aircraft markings are presented using 203 full color illustrations; including 143 wartime era photographs accompanied by historical and descriptive background text. A quick referral visual index for AAF fighter and bomb group/squadron tactical aircraft markings; group/squadron overseas station assignment maps; AAF/CBI order of battle charts; and the historical evolution of these US aircraft markings round out this fine reference work.
#1493727 in Books 2012-12-19Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 12.10 x 1.70 x 9.10l; .0 #File Name: 0764340417448 pagesThe Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet EA-18G Growler: A Developmental and Operational HistoryThe story of how the Super Hornet and Growler came into existence is the focus of this new book. The F/A-18E/F has its roots in the late-1980s Hornet 2000 study; which itself evaluated ways to enhance the range; payload; and bring-back capability of the existing F/A-18 Hornet. Through a series of trade-offs imposed by largely limited defense funds; what emerged was a versatile; affordable strike fighter aircraft that has served the Navy well since its fleet introduction in 2002. The Growler has a similar history. Itself an offshoot of the Super Hornet program; the EA-18G brought many of the Super Hornet's attributes - speed; maneuverability; self-defense capability; and advanced systems - into the electronic attack community and is now posed to assume all such missions from the venerable EA-6B Prowler within the next few years. The book draws on interviews with many of the key players in the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G program and on many press reports of the day to tell the story of how these aircraft were designed; developed; and deployed. Moreover; the book provides insights into the problems faced by these key individuals as well as the management methods they used to produce aircraft that have consistently been delivered at or ahead of schedule; under cost; and under weight.
Review
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Worth the high Price; Just Like the Plane!By Bernard V. Moore IIA beautifully produced masterpiece. I am so happy with his book that I only have two criticisms. First; in writing how effective the F/A-18A/Cs were in DESERT STORM; the author fails to mention the shoot down of LCDR Speicher and his F/A-18 by an Iraqi MiG-25.I consider this a major goof. Second; he glosses over had badly the Northrop and McDonnell designers got it with the "legacy" F/A-18A/C but under estimating the drag and thus loss of range and endurance. In effective; the "new" F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is not the new plane the designers and this writer would have you believe in the sense that one look tells you it's really just a development of the F/A-18 trying to "get it right" this time. Unfortunately; the splayed out external stores pylons ruin the chance for the designers to say; "Hey; we finally got it right!" But all in all; the Super Hornet seems to be a superb fighter (though no F-22); and this book is gorgeous; and worth the F-18 price.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Great read!By Kindle CustomerGreat book; thoroughly enjoying it so far. Its much larger than I had Anticipated (and very well worth the price!) and filled with countless information from various squadrons. Definitely pick it up if you have even the slightest interest in any of the hornet/growler models!1 of 3 people found the following review helpful. An outstanding reference book. Love the details of the Growler development.By Tucson TomThis is the highest quality airplane book I have ever seen!Paper quality; printing quality; photographs; detailed descriptions.An outstanding reference book that is well worth the price.Greatly enjoying the details of how the F/A-18 family beat out the Grumman A-6 family; the F-14 family; and the A-12 project that never flew.It will take a long time to finish reading it.Outstanding job!Consider that once upon a time; the Air Force had a design competition to make the fighter mafia happy. What came out of it was the F-16 and the F-17; and the F-17 became the F-18. Amazing sequence of events.The Air Force screwed up when it canceled the EF-111A and sent them to the boneyard. Not having a jammer that could keep up with the Air Force attack fleet; we ended up losing an F-117 and the wreckage of our stealth fighter ended up with the Chinese. For a long time; the Air Force could not make a decision on what to do. [You've heard it: "Gee; I don't know...."] Years of procrastination. [Well; maybe we could add jammer canoes to a B-52. ] [Well; maybe we could convert an F-35 stealth fighter to a jammer plane!] Finally; the Navy came up with the idea of adding the A-6 jammer pods to an F-18; and it worked!]
