This is the first aircraft 'In Action' book I have had the opportunity to review since August of last year and this is a very good one. A few things have changed in the series including more pages and a nicer binding. There is also quite a bit of color in this edition. What is gone from this edition, are profiles. Apparently it was felt those were not required for this subject. What has stayed the same are the fine front and back cover art from Don Greer as well as the usual superb sequential history section.

The F3D (later F-10) was the US Navy's first dedicated all weather fighter. Its design was a result of the need to carry a large radar system as well as the need to provide sufficient fuel for the engines in order to have a meaningful loiter time. The F3D was, until the advent of the A3D, probably the largest carrier capable aircraft in the Navy inventory. Yet while it was designed for carrier ops, aside from qualifying for carrier duty with VF-14, the type never made a cruise as a standard fighter squadron. The vast majority of aircraft were given to the Marines who used them for a short period of time near the end of the Korean War. Despite the usual problems with new technology, the Skyknight was a very successful night fighter with six confirmed victories over various Chinese/North Korean aircraft.

Post war, it was mostly relegated to training units, but the advent of electronic jamming aircraft brought the type back to use, again by the Marines in Vietnam. The then EF-10B was a very successful jammer, accompanying strike forces against a variety of targets. It was eventually replaced by the EA-6A late in the war.

Thanks to the size of the aircraft, it was quite useful as a flying test bed with aircraft being seconded to the Army and to Raytheon for a variety of tests. Frequently these tests would result in new nose radomes, making for some most unusual looking aircraft. The last of these planes was finally retired in the mid-1980s. Fortunately, most of these airframes were saved for various museums and displays.

As I said, it has been many editions since the last one was reviewed. second book done on the F-84 and is done in Squadron/Signal's new style. What that means are LOTS of color photos. I doubt if there are more than a dozen black and white images in this one, which really is nice as the F-84 series is quite colorful.

It is a superb book just chock full of photographs and historical background of its combat use in Korea and Vietnam. Though 'Willie the Whale' is not longer in the air, we can still enjoy reading about and seeing photos of this most interesting aircraft. Highly recommended.

May 2012

My thanks to Squadron Products for the review copy. Get yours today at your favorite shop or on-line retailer.

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