Publisher Description

Strap in alongside the Sabre pilots as they experienced the world's first large-scale jet-vs-jet combats. Brought to life with innovative tactical artwork and dramatic first-hand accounts from the pilots themselves.The F-86A Sabre had entered USAF service in 1949, and in December 1950 three squadrons were sent to South Korea. Despite primitive basing conditions and overwhelming Chinese opposition, the Sabre pilots stopped communist air forces from attacking UN ground troops and allowed Allied fighter-bombers to operate without threat of interception. The ensuing air battles between Sabres and MiG-15s were the first since World War II, and the last in recent times to involve large numbers of jet fighters in direct confrontation. In all of them the victorious F-86 pilots demonstrated the superiority of their training and tactics and the outstanding qualities of their Sabres.Contemporary photographs and specially commissioned artwork, including a dramatic battlescene, armament views, technical diagrams and ribbon diagrams illustrating step-by-step each main dogfight explored in the book, bring the experiences of the Sabre pilots and their battle tactics vividly to life.

Author Biography

Peter E. Davies has published over 30 books for Osprey. He has specialised in the aircraft of the Vietnam and Cold Wars, analysing tactics, background politics and technologies in combat and relying on first-hand interviews and unpublished material. Peter has also been a contributor to Aeroplane Monthly, Aviation News and Aircraft Illustrated.The illustrators for this volume are Gareth Hector (cover and battlescene), Jim Laurier (armament views) and Tim Brown (ribbon diagrams).

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1In BattleThis chapter features an account of a Sabre engagement with MiG-15s over 'MiG Alley' to involve the reader in the atmosphere of battle from the outset.CHAPTER 2Setting the SceneSabre's first clashes with MiGs.CHAPTER 3Path to CombatAnecdotal experiences of pilots concerning training and tactical instruction.CHAPTER 4Weapon of WarAlthough some early pilots found the F-86A lacked manufacturing consistency (one remarked that 'pieces kept falling off them'), the first batch of 35 F-86A-1s for the 4th FIW soon evolved into effective F-86A-5 combat machines.CHAPTER 5Art of WarUSAF, Soviet and Chinese sources are used in studying the combat techniques brought to the battles over 'MiG Alley' by pilots from both sides.CHAPTER 6CombatUSAF pilots describe their experiences in the F-86A, explaining how their combat tactics evolved and assessing their engagements. F-86As also flew ground attack missions, although the later Sabre variants were better equipped for this.CONCLUSIONAPPENDICESF-86A units and bases in Korea 1950-51, notable pilots involved in these early A-model actions and aces of that period.INDEX

Review

What really makes this book is the volume of personal accounts and the rich selection of mostly colour photographs. The stunning artwork showing tactics, armament, examples of dogfights in ribbon diagrams and the full two page artwork really add value to these short volumes. The high standard of Osprey Publishing is maintained with this book. This is must for any Korean War aviation fans or any F-86 Sabre fans. If you want to know what dogfighting in the F-86 against nimble and heavily armed M-15s mostly flown by Russians as we now know then this is a book for you! * Aviation News Magazine *

Promotional

Strap in alongside the Sabre pilots as they experienced the world's first large-scale jet-vs-jet combats. Brought to life with innovative tactical artwork and dramatic first-hand accounts from the pilots themselves.

Promotional "Headline"

Strap in alongside the Sabre pilots as they experienced the world's first large-scale jet-vs-jet combats. Brought to life with innovative tactical artwork and dramatic first-hand accounts from the pilots themselves.

Feature

The tactics and technicalities of aerial combat in an F-86A are presented in an accessible and exciting manner using ribbon diagrams and new, dramatic artwork by outstanding digital artists.

Details