Number 60 in the Aces series, this book concentrates on what was little known and in fact, considered to be a secret and that is the names of those Israeli pilots who had fought in the various Israeli wars.

While I'm not sure how long these folks have been known in country, darn little has been published about their exploits. I did note that most of the bibliography is less than ten years old so it seems as if the tight information blackout about these folks has relaxed considerably in the last decade. I found it quite refreshing to read about the exploits of these pilots as they fought as equally as intense a campaign as did US pilots who were in Vietnam at the same time. Perhaps the only difference is that the US campaign was more protracted as Israeli wars tended to be much more intense and for shorter periods before lapsing into a low-level period of tension.

If you like air to air combat stories, photos of planes being blasted from the skies and images of the victorious pilots and their planes, then this is the book for you. For an F-4 Phanatic such as myself, this book was absolutely riveting. Lots of 'I was there' stories that are so much the reason why we buy books like this. I found it particularly interesting that the F-4 was used almost exclusively as a ground attack aircraft and only engaged in air to air combat when there was no choice or after their primary mission was over. Rarely was the Phantom used as CAP, that job falling to the Mirage pilots. Even then, throughout its operational life, the F-4 amassed over a hundred individual victories and there were 8 crewmen who became aces while flying the old Rhino. Unlike the US, when an enemy plane was downed due to maneuvering or without actually being hit by missiles or guns, there was no individual credit given. Were that the case, then the number of aces would have been higher.

Typical of Osprey books, there are a goodly quantity of fine photographs of men and machines as well as the usual pages of color profiles, three-view drawings and appendices relating to Aces and Kills. In all a book that is an absolute must for any dedicated F-4 freak and those who are interested in air to air combat or the IAF.

Available in bookstores everywhere, through Classic Motorbooks at (800) 826-6600 or at www.motorbooks.com

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