Another superb book in the Osprey Frontlinge Color series. It is really about time that excellent photographs from that conflict were made available to us. The real pleasure of these books is that all the images are in color. Though color photography was only in its infancy during WWII, by Korea, hundreds of servicemen were taking color slides using the new 35mm format that had become so popular post-war.

The F-84 is another of the workhorse aircraft of Korea. Though it was able to hold its own with a Mig-15 in a dogfight, and several were shot down by Thunderjet pilots, it was carrying ordnance that made the reputation of the F-84. Like its earlier P-47 ancestor and its F-105 descendent, this Republic aircraft was extremely rugged and able to withstand a lot of damage. Many pilots returned to base in a plane that should have fallen from the sky due to AA damage.

The book has 4 chapters:

• Initial deployment of the 27 FEW F-84s. 

• The increase in F-84 units to meet additional commitments, including operations by 49thFBG, 116thFBW, & 136th FBG.

• Ops from 1952 including the 474th FBG and 58th FBW.

• The final year of the war and post war operations.

There is also an appendix section which is basically a cutaway of the F-84 and a table of performance and dimension statistics as well as a listing of units operating in Korea.

Modelers will like this book as it has close-up period photos of not only the aircraft, but also a number of the weapons and support equipment used by the Thunderjet. It also helps to clear up unit markings and the sequence of unit deployments and equipment changes from the F-84E to G. I found it particularly fascinating that the initial wing deployed to Korea, the 27th FEW was not a fighter-bomber wing but one that specialized in air to air operations and bomber escort. Their ability to master the ground support role in just a few weeks is, to me, truly remarkable.

As with the other volumes, it is peppered with first-person accounts of specific missions and events. These stories really add a great deal to the book and give a feel for what it must have been like to fly and fight with the F-84. It is a book that I can highly recommend to all who have any interest in the Korean War, the F-84 or just good period color photography.

Review copy courtesy of  your wiser, but poorer editor.

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