USAF F-105 Thunderchief vs VPAF MiG-17: Vietnam 1965-68

The F-105D Thunderchief and MiG-17 fought in duels during the Vietnam War, with the Thunderchief being used as the USAFs primary conventional striker against well-defended targets. The MiG-17 was a lightweight, highly manoeuvrable defending fighter that emphasized simplicity and ease of maintenance.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 80 pages
Publication date: 25 July 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The F-105D Thunderchief was initially conceived as a low-altitude nuclear strike aircraft, but its role changed dramatically with the outbreak of the Vietnam War. Instead, it became the USAF's primary conventional striker against heavily defended targets in North Vietnam and Laos. F-105 crews embarked on long-distance missions from bases in Thailand, refueling in flight multiple times and carrying substantial external bombloads. One of the most common adversaries they encountered during Operation Rolling Thunder in 1965-68 was the MiG-17, a lightweight, highly maneuverable fighter that was developed from the MiG-15. The MiG-17's emphasis on simplicity and ease of maintenance in potentially primitive conditions was a significant factor in its success. This book, fully illustrated with stunning artwork, showcases the duels between these two aircraft, which were vastly different in design and purpose, and the significant costs they incurred.

Weight: 260g
Dimension: 184 x 247 x 7 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472830906