Illustrated with detailed artworks of combat aircraft and their markings; The Essential Aircraft Identification Guide: Aircraft of the Cold War is a comprehensive study of the planes in service with NATO and the Warsaw Pact and their respective units from the end of World War II until the reunification of Germany. Arranged chronologically by theater; the book gives a complete organizational breakdown of the units of both sides; including the units and aircraft used in the proxy wars fought in Korea; Vietnam; the Middle East and elsewhere as well as the ‘frontline’ in Germany.Each section includes a compact history of the role and impact of aircraft on the course of the Cold War; as well as orders of battle; lists of commanders and aces such as Nikolai Sutyagin; Randall “Duke†Cunningham; Giora Epstein; and Majid Zugbi. Every type of aircraft is featured; including the numerous variations and types of well-known models; such as the MiG-15; the McDonnell Douglas F-15 and the Harrier; through to lesser-known aircraft; such as the Lockheed P-80; and the Myasishchev M-4 Bison. Each aircraft profile is accompanied by exhaustive specifications; as well as details of individual and unit markings. Packed with 250 color profiles of every major type of combat aircraft from the era; The Essential Aircraft Identification Guide: Aircraft of the Cold War is an essential reference guide for modelers; military historians and aircraft enthusiasts.
#1835153 in Books 2004-07-09Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 12.00 x 1.00 x 8.50l; 3.50 #File Name: 1902109406240 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great BookBy Mad MaxI read this book several years ago when it was released in paperback by Stackpole and have wanted the hardback copy for awhile since it has more photos. The detail of this book is amazing to me and it is an excellent read on the Luftwaffe's last gasp at turning the tide of the war in their favor. What is amazing to me is the author was able to detail the fate of most of the pilots that were shot down and killed; where they crashed; where they were buried or if they are still missing. Overall just a great book.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Hitler's New Years SurpriseBy CustomerThis book starts with the 1944 plan by Galland's fighter staff to send a large force against the marauding daylight bombers and knock down so many that the country would have breathing room to equip units with jets and advanced fighters. This idea was hijacked to be the aerial counterpart to the 'Battle of the Bulge' (Dec 16; 1944). However; bad weather intervened- as it also kept the Allied fighter-bombers away from Nazi units surging into Belgium. German forces feared 'Jabo' attacks when skies cleared again. So the strike force was dedicated to crippling those Jabos.The Luftwaffe's air strike was postponed to New Year's Day 1945. Plans were secret; leaders briefed at last minute. Each unit was assigned specific Allied airfields; led part-way by night fighters; and once across the battle lines they would sweep over their targets to strafe parked airplanes. Sections begin with a map and units involved. Each page shows young men in late-war gear; standing in huts or by their planes. From the first; the plans fell apart. Ground fire was fierce; some early Allied patrols intercepted formations. The longer raiders stayed overhead; the greater their chance of being shot down. Novice pilots were hard-pressed to fly low; aim at and hit targets; and dodge other planes in the air.Eindhoven; for example; was hit hard; at least 83 planes destroyed. Gasoline; bomb dumps and rockets exploded too.Approximately 208 of the attacking force of 1;035 never returned. [These numbers are not easily found in any 'Totals' listing- and the blow-by-blow actions throw a lot of minutia at the reader.] Many fell close the the targets; others limped away or ran afoul of prowling fighters. The book notes that smoke plumes might be visible; yet too inaccessible to reach; thus; MIA airmen could have fallen in deep woods.Appendices list Luftwaffe order of battle (with units; their base; and their targets); Luftwaffe aircraft ready-vs-flown; German losses (by aircraft I.D.; pilot names; crash location); Luftwaffe aerial claims. Also Allied order of battle; aerial losses (with pilot condition); ground losses; Aerial combat claims; Allied ground personnel casualties; and the claims of Anti-aircraft units on the fields. See also: Battle of the Airfields.6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Definitely a definitive account....By lordhootBodenplatte proves to be Luftwaffe's last major aerial offensive of World War II and this book shows why this raid proves to be so ill-fated; ill conceived and badly planned. Superbly researched by the two authors with hundreds of first hand accounts that gives much clarity to this often overlooked one day effort that totally compromised the Luftwaffe military effort along the western front for the rest of the war.The book is divided so each fighter wing (Jagdgeschwader) who took part of the operation had their own chapter. Each chapter shows how they prepared and how they fared during the New Year Day raid. As in most cases; these Jagdgeschwaders did not fared very well at all. It pretty interesting to read that almost 50% of all Luftwaffe losses were due to anti-aircraft; mostly Allied although German lost some more to their own anti-aircraft units. The lost of German pilots proves to be the hinchpin of doom for the Luftwaffe while Allies easily replaced all pilots and planes lost in that raid.The book read pretty well; there are over 400 black and white photos that goes with the account given and many of photos proves to be interesting ones. The book is written with certain German centric point of view although first hand accounts were given from both sides. There is also a very detail appendixs of who shot down who; what unit lost what planes and pilots and host of other material that reflect on the details of the raid. The research; as I write again; proves to be superb.If there was a weakness; I would say that the maps could have been better design. Also; this book wasn't meant to be read by beginner reader. The authors fully expect their readers to understand the full aspect of World War II history during this period and readily be able to tell the difference between a FW190D and ME109G. There isn't much in this book for elementary education on World War II. The authors take you straight into the military narrative of the raid.Overall; a definitive account of Bodenplatte Raid and as it turned out; it wasn't much hope for the Luftwaffe after this. The book come highly recommended for experience readers. (Funny; Hikoki Publications - Hikoki is Japanese word for "plane".)
