{"product_id":"9781472857545","title":"F-8 Crusader : Vietnam 1963-73 by Peter E. Davies","description":"With specially commissioned artworks and dynamic combat ribbon diagrams, this volume reveals how the `last of the gunfighters', as the F-8 was dubbed by its pilots, prevailed against the growing MiG threat of the Vietnamese People's Air Force.   When the Vietnam War began, the F-8 was already firmly established as a fighter and reconnaissance aircraft. It entered combat as an escort for Alpha strike packages, braving the anti-aircraft artillery and surface-to-air missiles alongside the A-4 Skyhawk bombers and meeting MiGs for the first time on 3 April 1965. Although the Crusader was nicknamed `last of the gunfighters', its pilots employed `secondary' AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles in all but one of their MiG kills, with guns also used as back-up in three. Its 20 mm guns were unreliable as they often jammed during strenuous manoeuvres, although they were responsible for damaging a number of MiGs. However, in combat the F-8 had the highest `exchange ratio' (kills divided by losses) at six-to-one of any US combat aircraft involved in the Vietnam War.   Through the copious use of first-hand accounts, highly detailed battlescene artwork, combat ribbon diagrams and armament views, Osprey's Vietnam air war specialist Peter E. Davies charts the successful career of the F-8 Crusader over Vietnam.\u003cbr\u003eBinding: Paperback \/ softback","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56301132513653,"sku":"9781472857545","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781472857545.jpg?v=1762790296","url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/products\/9781472857545","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}