Incredible Modern Air Combat books!

So I read. Way more than I write. and I'm proud to say I now own 3 of the best, biggest, baddest books about modern air combat involving the United States Armed Services:



Both are incredibly entertaining, give background information, are chock-packed-full-to-the-rim with pilot interviews about what unfolded how when where etc.. More "The Rest of the Story" stories than you can know. Definitely, get your hands on these. There are amazing first-hand account from the cockpits of F-16 pilots (could have gunned that Jastreb down), F-15 pilots (Yes, F-15Cs actually performed some ground strafing, and sometimes coordinated A-10s in an impromptu AFAC role)., F-14 pilots (read how this Navy JO totally shamed his CAG with an A-A kill), and more!.

Another great book, while definitely air combat related its focus is the F-15 Eagle is:

Written by Davies, a noted Osprey writer, and Davies, who actually flew F-15s. Or the other way around. Anyway- they teamed up and made an incredible, comprehensive book full of photos, diagrams, history, narratives, and insider info on the development, use and future of the F-15 Eagle in USAF hands. Oddly, it doesn't dwell much on the Israeli Air Force's use of it (odd because they have the most kills of it than any other force, including the USAF) and it only brushes by the Air NAtional Guard Eagle units, with antiquated photos. Bit of a snub there. But still extremely worth it.


There aren't a lot of copies (Amazon and Barnes and Noble) of any of these, so move fast.

I also recommend this book:

Make sure it's the 1988 edition. The chapters about each individual aircraft that are in this book are bigger than some books. Most books. The information in them is over-the-top comprehensive. Development, assembly, oversea sales, avionics, deployment, and more! Superbly and completely illustrated. It's big, though. Very, very big. And worth it.

Do NOT get this one. It's the 2000 re-print of the one above. But it includes virtually ZERO updates on the planes it already had in the previous edition. Oh, it has a small section on new stealth aircraft, but there's nothing about new F-15C updates or Desert Storm deployment. Nothing about the F-14D and getting LANTIRN. F-18E/F is barely mentioned. Just skip this one:

 And, of course, anything from Osprey. Always trust Osprey publishing. They're a guaranteed awesome reading experience.

Oh, and anything by Robert F. Dorr.

More art to come next entry!