F-4 Phantom II vs MiG-21: USAF & VPAF in the Vietnam War: No. 12 (Duel) - Softcover

"Davies writes in a very clear, straightforward style that makes certain complex technical info- about radar and electronic warfare- very easy to follow. The most important aspect of the book is the large amount of data about the VPAF, which is missing from the vast majority of works out there. He goes into detail about capabilities of the MiG-21's radar and weapon systems (again almost always missing) and the effectiveness of Vietnamese Ground Intercept Radar, which is often misunderstood and biased by cold war propaganda... This is by far one of the best books on the subject and is more than worth the $17.95 list price. Also included are brief yet thorough biographies on two famous pilots from each side for your comparison... If you want to learn how a small third world air force could hold its own against the most advanced aerial armada in the world, this is the book for you." --Brett Allen, Review Fix, reviewfix.com (July 2009) "The format of this 'Duel' series differs somewhat from the familiar Osprey presentation. There are the expected photos and knowledgable text, but there is a very limited number of profiles. Instead, artwork includes several illustrations showing various engagements, as well as cockpit layouts and armament packages. All are highly interesting and enhance the well-versed reader's understanding, while educating the neophyte." --Naval Aviation News (June 2009)

This book draws us into the dangerous world braved by American and North Vietnamese airmen in the skies over Vietnam. Influential leaders and tacticians are profiled to provide a comparative evaluation of their contrasting skills. This book also reveals the technical specifications of each jet with an analysis of the weaponry, avionics and survival devices of the F-4 Phantom II as flown by the USAF and the MiG-21. The fighters' strengths and weaknesses are also compared, including turn radius, performance at altitude, range and structural integrity. First-person extracts reflect on the dangers of these aerial duels, as USAF pilots and their counterparts struggled to overcome each plane's shortcomings.