F-8 Crusader Units of the Vietnam War

Osprey does it again. These Vietnam era books are as good as the VVS books I have reviewed. Love the illustrations and pilot uniform paintings. Also includes color photo section and 3 view drawings. Very well done, humorous pictures at times. Seems to capture a lot in such a short book. Highly recommend this even at full price...a rarity from me!

Another good book in the Osprey series. Lots of good photos and color photos and color plates. There is also an actual B & W photo of an F-8 pilot ejecting (punchin' out) in flight at altitude. Luckily he was also recovered. Book talks about this "last of the gunfighters" and the F-8 did have gun only victories but the book does state that the majority of the F-8 victories were via sidewinders. But at least the F-8 did have guns....sorry U.S. Navy Phantom. Book covers the F-8 roles as MigCap and escort, and provides info on F-8 in the air to ground role which I was previously unaware of. Photos of F-8 with Zunis on their sidewinder rails and iron bombs under wings took me by surprise as I have usually seens photos of the Crusader outfitted for it's air to air role. (I've always wondered why other USN or other navy aircraft didnt also incorporate the variable incidence wing on the F-8 - variable geometry wing seems so much more complicated and expensive). Book also discusses how the F-8 was deployed on the "smaller" carriers with the Phantoms on the large carriers. Book has lots of good in-person pilot recollections of F-8 missions. Good book.....and...Fly Navy !!

Book is well written with great photo's and illstrations. Facts are excellent. If you like the Crusader. This is a must! The last of the gunfighters!

The F-8 Crusader will go down in aviation history as a classic warplane, captured on TV and in print media as the chief aerial protagonist in a number of conflicts in the '60s. From the Cuban crisis, to the Vietnam war, the F-8 was the Navy's last single seat fighter - the 'Gunfighter' - until the F-18 appeared some twenty years later. Mersky is a veteran Crusader fanatic, with other like titles to his credit, and he continues to delve into the details of F-8s, and F-8 service. What makes this book a standout is the focus on the F-8 drivers, as well as the aircraft and units. For anybody who is interested in a unique period of US Naval aviation, this is a must! This book looks good, has great historical anecdotes and good illustrations. In Australia, it is a very expensive paperback, but still - no pay(n), no gain!