Osprey Combat Aircraft Series SC (1997-2011 OSPREY) comic books 2007-2009

Volume 62 - 1st printing. " US Navy PBY Catalina Units of the Pacific War!" Written by Louis B Dorny. Art by Jim Laurier. Deadly in its primary role as a submarine hunter, the PBY Catalina was the scourge of the Imperial Japanese Navy's submarine force. Its amphibious traits also made the aircraft well suited to air-sea rescue, and thousands of Allied airmen were saved from a watery grave by PBY crews. Using personal interviews, war diaries and combat reports combined with original Japanese records and books, Louis B Dorny provides a view on the role of the Catalina from both side of the war. Illustrated with over 80 photographs and colour profiles detailing aircraft markings, this is the definitive history of an insight into the PBY's use by the US Navy and Allied forces in the Pacific during World War 2. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 66 - 1st printing. "C-47/R4D Skytrain Units of the Pacific and CBI !" Written by David Isby. Art by Chris Davey. From Pearl Harbor to VJ-Day, the humble Douglas C-47/R4D carried out missions every bit as strategically important, and as dramatic for the aircrew involved, as those of the fighters and bombers in the vast Pacific/CBI theatres. The C-47's wartime operations paved the way for post-war military and civil air transport, proving that aircraft could safely conduct routine flights from the USA, Australia and India throughout the Pacific and South-east Asia. The flights also demonstrated how the USAAF was able to invest in, and carry out, a mission that it had barely prepared for in terms of doctrine pre-war. In addition to linking theatres, the C-47 found itself in the vanguard of combat operations on virtually a daily basis in New Guinea, Burma, the Philippines, the SWPA and China. The importance of these missions, and the dangers faced by crews tasked with carrying them out, is chronicled in numerous first-hand accounts from the aircrew involved in this unique volume on the Allies' favourite transport aircraft of World War 2. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 68 - 1st printing. "F-117 Stealth Fighter Units of Operation Desert Storm!" Written by Warren Thompson. Art by Mark Styling. During the final years of the 20th century, the most significant break-through in military weaponry was the concept of Stealth technology, and the first mass-produced weapon to utilize this to perfection was the F-117 Nighthawk. Originally delivered in 1982, its existence was officially denied until the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, when it entered the public spotlight over the skies of Baghdad. Illustrated with stunning color photographs of the F-117 above Iraq, and complemented by numerous personal accounts from the pilots themselves, this book explores the history and combat experience of one of the most secretive planes ever built. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 69 - 1st printing. "US Navy and Marine Corps A-4 Skyhawk Units of the Vietnam War 1963-1973!" Written by Peter Mersky. Art by Jim Laurier. The Skyhawk was involved in Vietnam from the very beginning, including the first offensive operations in 1963 into Laos, and the Pierce Arrow operations immediately following the Tonkin Gulf Incident of August 1964. Navy and Marine Corps A-4s quickly established a presence in south-east Asia participating in thousands of sorties against the entrenched communist forces in the South and the heavily defended targets in North Vietnam. A-4 pilots also struck targets along the infamous Ho Chi Minh Trail, working with ground-based and airborne forward air controllers to interdict the flood of supplies to communist forces in the south. This book will include many first-hand accounts from the pilots who flew one of the greatest attack aircraft ever built and will provide an insightful account of some of the most thrilling aerial combats that took place during Vietnam. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 70 - 1st printing. "F-14 Tomcat Units of Operation Enduring Freedom!" Written by Tony Holmes. Art by Jim Laurier. The legendary F-14 Tomcat was the weapon of choice to strike against the enemies of the United States in the wake of the September 11 attacks, with F-14s flying thousands of bombing missions on al-Qaeda and Taliban positions. Written by aviation expert Tony Holmes, this book explores the F-14 pilots and aircraft involved in Operation Enduring Freedom, with insights into the tactical approach and strategic aims provided by officers. Exclusive access to mission reports, combat diaries, fullcolour artwork and photographs from the author's collection reveal the battle experiences of the most famous modern fast jet. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 71 - 1st printing. "Il-2 Shturmovik Guards Units of World War 2!" Written by Oleg Rastrenin. Art by Andrey Yurgenson. Over 43,000 Il-2/10s were built between 1941 and 1955, more than any other combat aircraft in history, making this one of the most important Soviet aircraft deployed in World War II. Built originally as a two-seater, the Il-2 had lost the rear gunner's position by the time it started to reach frontline units. Armed with ground-attack rockets, the aircraft proved deadly against Wehrmacht panzers as pairs of Il-2s roamed the frontline at low level. However, the Shturmoviks (armoured attackers) were vulnerable to attack from the rear by enemy fighters, so Ilyushin reverted to the two-seat layout in September 1942. Oleg Rastrenin provides a fascinating account of the complex development history of a plane that was crucial to Russia's defence. From Stalingrad to Kursk to Berlin, this book charts the aeroplane's vital contribution to the most famous battles of the Eastern front. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 72 - 1st printing. "Vulcan Units of the Cold War!" Written by Andrew Brookes. Art by Chris Davey. The best of the three RAF jet bombers in the early years of the Cold War, the Vulcan was designed as the Avro 698, and possessed fighter-like manoeuvrability at low level despite its size. First flown in August 1952, the Vulcan entered service in February 1957. Most were equipped to carry the Blue Steel stand-off missile, but in 1966 around 50 Vulcans were re-deployed in a tactical low-level bombing role. Three flew during the Falklands War, and the last Vulcans in service were used as aerial tankers until April 1984. This book examines the design of the Vulcan, exploring the improvements made to its engine and its evolving combat role. The illustrations include many in-flight photographs and detailed colour profiles. This is a timely examination of a distinctive and ground-breaking aircraft. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 73 - 1st printing. "B-26 Marauder Units of the MTO!" Written by Mark Styling. Art by Mark Postlethwaite. The revolutionary design of the B-26, with its seemingly impossibly short and dangerous wingspan initially gained it a reputation as a 'widow maker'. However, improvements to the design and the development of effective combat tactics enabled these units to make the B-26 a very effective and safe combat aircraft which went on to play a major role in the defeat of Axis forces in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany. Packed with first-hand accounts and rare previously unpublished photographs, this book examines how hastily trained crews proved the B-26 to be a highly reliable, effective medium bomber, establishing the Marauder as one of the truly great aircraft of World War II. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 74 - 1st printing. "Junkers Ju 87 Stukageschwader of the Russian Front!" By John Weal. This first volume of the Osprey trilogy on the Luftwaffe dive-bomber charts its fortunes in the toughest theatre of all: the Eastern Front. Written by John Weal, a leading authority on the Luftwaffe, this book examines how, following its comprehensive defeat over the English Channel in the summer of 1940, the Stuka was able to restore its fearsome reputation over the Eastern Front. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 75 - 1st printing. "Junkers Ju 88 Kampfgeschwader in North Africa and the Mediterranean!" By John Weal. This volume follows the Luftwaffe's twin-engined 'Wunderbomber' southwards to describe its deployment in North Africa and the Mediterranean theatre of war. Early 1941 saw the first sporadic air raids on Malta, followed by the campaign in the Balkans which resulted in the conquests of Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete. After supporting land operations in North Africa during the latter half of 1941, the Ju 88s resumed their assault on Malta. Bringing the story to life are personal accounts of the more famous actions - the bombing of shipping off the coast of Greece and the sinking of three Royal Navy destroyers south of Crete, all illustrated with rare photographs and full-colour profiles. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 76 - 1st printing. "Lockheed SR-71 Operations in the Far East!" Written by Paul F Crickmore. Art by Chris Davey. Even before the first operational flight of the U-2 spy plane, aircraft designers began work on the type's replacement. The result was the SR-71. First deployed on March 9, 1968, this tri-sonic 'hotrod' flew its first operational sortie over North Vietnam just 12 days later. Thereafter, the SR-71 roamed freely, capturing photographic, radar and electronic intelligence. This book examines the impact this aircraft had, not only on North Vietnam but during the Cold War as a whole, gathering information about the Soviet nuclear submarine fleet based in Vladivostok as well as the port's defenses, monitoring the actions of North Korea and flying four 11-hour, non-stop sorties into the Persian Gulf during the Iran-Iraq War in the late 1980s. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 77 - 1st printing. "US Navy A-1 Skyraider Units of the Vietnam War!" Written by Rick Burgess and Zip Rausa. Art by Jim Laurier. Nicknamed the 'flying dump truck', the A-1 was a key component in naval air wings from the end of World War II into the 1960s, allowing the aircraft to play its part in the escalating conflict in Vietnam. Both A-1 attack and EA-1F airborne early warning aircraft saw action in Southeast Asia from 1960 through 1969, when the last examples were finally retired from carrier decks. The A-1s in particular bombed targets in both North and South Vietnam, despite the aircraft being highly vulnerable to enemy flak and fighters. Co-written by a two-tour Vietnam War combat veteran in the A-1, this is the first book that focuses exclusively on the aircraft's service in Vietnam. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 78 - 1st printing. "F4U Corsair Units of the Korean War!" Written by Warren Thompson. Art by Mark Styling. This book tells the story of the 26 US Navy Squadrons, most of which were carrier based, and the six Marine Corps F-4 squadrons that flew combat missions against the North Koreans. Drawing from a vast repository of personal interviews with F-4 pilots, the author paints a harrowing picture of the deadly combat of this often forgotten air war. Included in this volume is the story of Lt Guy Bordelon, the US Navy's sole ace of the Korean War, who flew an F4U-5N night-fighter against the night raiders sent up by the Korean Air Force. Supporting the text is a vast number of previously unpublished private photographs that bring the stories of these pilots to life. Finally the book contains extensive appendices that detail every unit deployment by carrier, air group, Corsair model and tail code, as well as detailed lists noting every Corsair lost in the war. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 80 - 1st printing. "Lockheed SR-71 Operations in Europe and the Middle East!" Written by Paul F Crickmore. Art by Chris Davey. First employed in the Far East over North Vietnam and North Korea, American military intelligence quickly realized the SR-71 'Blackbird's' potential value over European targets. In 1976, SR-71 Detachment 4 commenced operations from the RAF base at Middenhall in the UK. Its mission was to monitor Warsaw Pact troop movements along the Iron Curtain and photograph the various ports that were home to the Soviet Union's nuclear submarine fleet. Despite the best efforts of the USSR, they were never able to intercept a 'Blackbird' in flight.Written by an expert on SR-71 operations, this book picks up where Combat 76: Lockheed SR-71 Operations in the Far East left off. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 81 - 1st printing. "Israeli A-4 Skyhawk Units in Combat!" Written by Shlomo Aloni. Art by Jim Laurier. The light and agile A-4 Skyhawk was the first modern American jet to be offered to the Israeli Air Force, marking the point where the US took over from France as Israel's chief military supplier. Deliveries began too late for the A-4 to fight in the Six-Day War, but it soon formed the backbone of the IAF's ground-attack force. From 1969 to 1970 it flew endless sorties against Egyptian forces in the War of Attrition. Then, during the Yom Kippur War, five squadrons of A-4s saw combat and 50 planes were lost as they battled against the Arab armored onslaught. Using previously unpublished first-hand accounts and rare photography from the IAF archives and pilots' private collections, Shlomo Aloni tells the definitive history of the IAF's A-4 squadrons, including the story of Ezra "BABAN" Dotan who became an ace with an unique double-kill of MiG17s. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.