Book number 11 in their Aircraft of the French Air Force and Navy collection is on the Sud-Ouest Vautour, France's first operational jet bomber. First flying in late 1952, the Vautour was built in three different versions. One was an attack bomber, one was a medium bomber and the third was a night fighter. The attack bomber was a single seat aircraft while the other two were two seat planes. The aircraft had but a single foreign operator, Israel, who purchased close to 30 aircraft and used them in the Six Day War.

In this book by Alain Crosnier, we are given a full history of the type from the prototype through the different variants. We are also provided with individual histories of the various units that flew the Vautour during its nearly two decade operational life. Though not all that long in front-line French service, it went on to a rather long life as a trainer and test bed aircraft.

Though it is entirely in French, one is often surprised by how much information can be gleaned by non-French speaking people. But what really makes this a great book are the photographs and the profiles. The book is literally chock full of outstanding images, most of them in glorious color, and superbly drawn full color profiles.

If you have an interest in this aircraft, you will find no better collection of images than this one. It is a book I enjoyed and I know you will as well.

February 2012

Review book courtesy of  Casemate Publishing, where you can order your copy of this and many other superb books.

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