F-4 Phantom II Wild Weasel Units in Combat

This book provides a detailed account of the development and deployment of the F-4 Phantom II Wild Weasel aircraft, which played a crucial role in aerial bombing during the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm. It includes firsthand insights from crews who flew the jet and archival photography, offering a comprehensive visual and technical guide to the aircraft.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 16 February 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

From the Vietnam War to Operation Desert Storm during the First Gulf War, this book offers a firsthand account of some of the most perilous and challenging missions in both conflicts. The introduction of surface-to-air missiles (SAM) in the early 1950s posed a significant threat to the concept of aerial bombing from medium and high altitudes. Countermeasures were developed during the Korean War, but they had limited initial success. It was only in the closing stages of the Vietnam War that the F-4C Wild Weasel 4, equipped with advanced anti-radar missiles, began to show significant effectiveness. This led to a substantial investment in converting 116 F-4E Phantom IIs into dedicated SEAD aircraft. This transformation introduced a new generation of anti-radar missiles that became invaluable in subsequent operations, including Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and Northern Watch over Iraq.

This volume features dynamic archival photography from crews who flew the jet, alongside mission accounts and technical details of the development and fielding of the F-4 in its various iterations. Including specially commissioned artwork of "shark-mouthed Phantom IIs in Vietnam jungle camouflage and more modern USAF 'Ghost Gray," this book is the ultimate visual and technical guide to the F-4 Phantom II Wild Weasel Units in combat.

Weight: 312g
Dimension: 184 x 248 x 7 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472854568