Aircraft of the Cold War 1945-1991

Arranged chronologically by theatre, the book gives a complete organisational 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 colour profiles of every major type of combat aircraft from the era, this book is an essential reference guide for modellers, military historians and aircraft enthusiasts.