This is another of AirDoc's fine pictorial books, this time concentrating on the F-4 Phantom II. Authored by Patrick Martin, who, like your editor, was and probably still is a major military aircraft photo nut, the book covers all of the USMC units operating the F-4 during the Corps' long association with the type.

There is little in the way of actual historical background as this is a photo book and so most info is gleaned from the captions. The book covers the units in numerical order starting with VMFA-112 and ending with VMFP-3. All of the photos are well chosen and in full color, with generally three per page. In some cases there are four and others there are two. As a long time slide trader, I've many of these same images in my collection so there are few that are really new to me. The images cover the full range of camouflage and markings for each unit, including bicentennial and special event aircraft. 

Air Doc's dual German/English books have set a very high standard for books of this type.  Overall it is a superlative book that is well written, well designed and a delight to the eyes of any Phantom Phanatic. One I can recommend to you without hesitation.

May 2009

My thanks to AirDoc for the review book. You can find these at your local hobby shop and if not, ask them to order them for you. You can also order direct by e-mailing them at www.airdoc.eu

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and quickly, please contact me or see other details in the Note to Contributors.