{"product_id":"mig-21-fishbed-opposing-rolling-thunder-1966-68-paperback","title":"Mig-21 \"Fishbed\": Opposing Rolling Thunder 1966-68 - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eIstv疣 Toperczer\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eGareth Hector\u003c\/b\u003e (Illustrator), \u003cb\u003eJim Laurier\u003c\/b\u003e (Illustrator)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eUsing archival photographs sourced directly from Vietnam, specially commissioned diagrams and combat accounts from veterans, Istv疣 Toperczer reveals how the MiG-21 defended Vietnam between 1966 and 1968. \u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eOne of the most successful communist jet fighters ever built, the MiG-21 \"Fishbed\" was involved in a series of deadly duels with American fighters over North Vietnam as the USAF and US Navy ramped up strike missions during Operation \u003ci\u003eRolling Thunder\u003c\/i\u003e, culminating in the destruction of over 70 US aircraft for the loss of 35 \"Fishbeds.\" \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eHaving honed their skills on the subsonic MiG-17, pilots of the Vietnam People's Air Force received their first examples of the legendary MiG-21 supersonic fighter in 1966. Soon thrown into combat over North Vietnam, the guided-missile-equipped MiG-21 proved a deadly opponent for the American crews striking at targets deep into communist territory. Although the communist pilots initially struggled to come to terms with the fighter's air search radar and weapons systems, the ceaseless cycle of combat operations quickly honed their skills. The best fighter then available to the VPAF, more than 200 MiG-21s (of various sub-types) were supplied to the North Vietnamese. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn this study, leading VPAF authority Istv疣 Toperczer analyzes the tactics used by the MiG-21 pilots over the bitter fighting in North Vietnam during \u003ci\u003eRolling Thunder\u003c\/i\u003e. The highspeed 'hit and run' attacks employed by the communist pilots proved to be very successful, with both R-3S air-to-air missiles and heavy-caliber cannon inflicting a rising toll on American jets. Using first-hand accounts from MiG-21 pilots, battlescene artwork, combat ribbon diagrams, and armament views, the author details the important role played by the \"Fishbed\" in the defense of North Vietnam.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIstv疣 Toperczer\u003c\/b\u003e is a flight surgeon with the Hungarian Air Force. In his spare time, he has become one of the few individuals from outside Vietnam to be given open access to the files of the VPAF. He has made numerous visits to Hanoi, and other Vietnamese cities, in the past 25 years, and has interviewed many of the leading MiG-21 pilots from the war years. He has previously written four series volumes on VPAF MiGs for Osprey. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe illustrators for this title are \u003cb\u003eGareth Hector\u003c\/b\u003e (cover and battlescene), \u003cb\u003eJim Laurier\u003c\/b\u003e (armament views) and \u003cb\u003eTim Brown\u003c\/b\u003e (ribbon and technical diagrams).\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 80\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.3 x 9.7 x 7.1 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e August 15, 2023\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51765148778784,"sku":"9781472857569","price":24.84,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/cf685e0343e71a103df2a7ceeae06a74.webp?v=1780262730","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/mig-21-fishbed-opposing-rolling-thunder-1966-68-paperback","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}