ICM UK ICMDS4803

"Tally-Ho on the FAC" - USAF North-American/Rockwell OV-10D Broncos in the Vietnam War. This 1/48 decal sheet includes 19 marking options for OV-10A Broncos used by the USAF in the crucial Forward Air Controller (FAC) role during the Vietnam War. Unfortunately, however, due to their generally nondescript markings, not all the schemes included are specifically identified to their applicable assigned Tactical Air Support Squadrons (TASS). One option included is a PAVE NAIL modified Bronco (with specific nose art); however, at the time of print, no PAVE NAIL kit or airframe conversion is known to be available. Ordnance loadout charts for USAF Bronco FACs in Vietnam are also provided. Also included with this release is full OV-10A airframe data and markings sheet 48-021 that covers one aircraft (including variations, landing gear placards, formation lights, etc) and also includes markings for ordnance commonly used in Vietnam. (The data and markings sheet is also available to purchase separately, see 48-021).

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Re-printed! USAF/VNAF Douglas A-1E Skyraider: Designed for the recent Revell re-release of the 1/48 Matchbox A-1E kit, our first "fat face" Skyraider sheet features markings for seven USAF and two VNAF aircraft; all from the Vietnam War era. The options on this decal sheet are: A-1E 132649, (aircraft flown by Maj. Bernie Fisher during the mission that won him the Medal of Honor) A-1E 132619, "Carolyn's Folly" A-1E 135007, "Miss Pussy Galore" A-1E 52-919 A-1E 135206, "Georgia Ann" A-1E 132528, "War Monger" A-1E 132612 A-1E 132628, VNAF A-1E 132503, VNAF

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BAC/EE Canberra B.2/B.20 The B-57, the American-built version of the highly successful Canberra, has the distinction of being the first jet-powered bomber to drop munitions in anger. In addition to performing successfully as a bomber in Vietnam, the versatile Canberra was adapted for many different roles in the USAF. This 1/48 scale decal sheet for the B-57 provides post-Vietnam War period markings for aircraft in different roles. Designed for the Airfix kit. The options on this decal sheet are: EB-57E 55-4242, 17th DSES, Malmstrom AFB (1976 Bicentennial markings) EB-57B 52-1506, 4577th DSEG EB-57B 52-1509, Vermont ANG RB-57C 53-3831, Vermont ANG EB-57C 53-3840, Vermont ANG WB-57C 53-3851, 58th WRS, Kirtland AFB

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McDonnell RF-4C Recce Phantoms - Part 1 Ten marking options for camouflaged USAF RF-4C reconnaissance Phantoms, from the Vietnam War era to the late 1980s. The RF-4C Phantom, a reconnaissance variant of the iconic F-4C fighter, played a crucial role in the USAF's tactical aerial reconnaissance during its service life. In USAF service, the RF-4C served in bases around the world and captured invaluable intelligence in conflict zones from the Vietnam War era through to the Gulf War. Notably adept at high-speed, low-altitude missions, the RF-4C excelled in its role and was a key component in various USAF squadrons. This decal set with nine unique options celebrates the distinguished history of the RF-4C Recce Phantoms. The markings options on this decal sheet are: RF-4C 65-0905 "Tumbleweed", 11st TRS, Udorn RTAFB RF-4C 64-1006. 30th TRS, RAF Alconbury RF-4C 65-0927, 10th TRW, RAF Alconbury RF-4C 63-7760 "City of Seymour" RF-4C 64-1081, 165th TRS - Kentucky ANG RF-4C 65-0886, 192nd TRS - Nevada ANG RF-4C 63-7758, 160th TRS - Alabama ANG RF-4C 68-0595, 91st TRS RF-4C 68-0567 "Starize", 1st TRS, RAF Alconbury Accurate stencilling and national insignia to build any one of the options is included. The stencilling sheet included in this set is also available as a separate product (Caracal Models Basics CDB48012). All of sheets in this set were professionally screen printed by Cartograf in Italy.

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MDFSD9 Scaled Down #9 Fairchild A-10A Warthog/Thunderbolt II. The A-10 'Warthog' owed its birth to two influences - the inadequacies of the Close Air Support aircraft used in Vietnam, and the need to counter Soviet armoured might in Europe. During the Vietnam War the Air Force regarded CAS as their domain but was hard pressed to find an aircraft with both the range and loiter capacity to fulfil this need. They did obtain quantities of the old but excellent piston-powered Douglas A-1 Skyraider originally developed for the Navy, which soon earned the appreciation of the ground-pounders by its ability to carry a huge warload, dish out and take punishment, and remain on station for an extended period of time. Late in the war the USAF shifted the CAS mission to the jet-powered A-7 Corsair II, which had been developed for a US Navy requirement for a carrier-based strike fighter to replace the A-4 Skyhawk. The Corsair was an excellent aircraft, but it was designed for the strike-interdiction role, not for the battlefield CAS mission. The USAF therefore began to put together an AX - 'Attack Experimental' program to develop a dedicated CAS aircraft that could do the job far better than the Corsair, match the Skyraider in warload and endurance, but be substantially faster while being extremely maneuverable. The aircraft would also need to be highly survivable through the use of armour and redundant systems, include twin engines and be armed with a fast-firing Gatling-type gun.

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LIMITED RE-PRINT! Wild Weasels Defence suppression & electronic warfare aircraft by Andy Evans & Stephen J Di Nucci Real To Replicas Red series Number 3 Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) are military actions to subdue enemy surface-based air defences, including not only surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) and anti-aircraft artillery (AAA), but also interrelated systems such as early-warning radar and command, control, and communication (C3) functions, while also marking other targets to be destroyed by an air strike. Suppression can be accomplished both by physically destroying the systems or by disrupting and deceiving them through electronic warfare. In modern warfare SEAD missions can constitute as much as thirty percent of all sorties launched in the first week of combat and continue at a reduced rate through the rest of a campaign. One quarter of American combat sorties in recent conflicts have been SEAD missions. Electronic warfare (EW) on the other hand is any action involving the use of the electromagnetic spectrum (EM spectrum) or directed energy to control the spectrum, attack an enemy, or impede enemy assaults. The purpose of electronic warfare is to deny the opponent the advantage of, and to ensure friendly unimpeded access to the EM spectrum. EW can be applied from air, sea, land, and/or space by manned and unmanned systems, and can target communication, radar, or other military and civilian assets. These airborne roles were in their infancy during World War II and the Korean War but came to prominence during the Vietnam War with the advent of the dedicated 'Wild Weasel' role, a code name given by the United States Air Force to an aircraft, of any type, equipped with anti-radiation missiles and tasked with the SEAD - destroying the radar and surface-to-air missile installations of enemy air defence systems. The 'Wild Weasel' concept was developed by the United States Air Force in 1965, after the introduction of Soviet SAMs and their downing of US strike aircraft over the skies of North Vietnam. 'Wild Weasel' tactics and techniques began their development in 1965 following the commencement of Operation 'Rolling Thunder' and were later adapted by other nations The term 'Wild Weasel' derives from Project 'Wild Weasel', the USAF development program for a dedicated SAM-detection and suppression aircraft. The technique was also called an 'Iron Hand' mission, though technically this term referred only to the suppression attack before the main strike. Originally named 'Project Ferret', denoting a predatory animal that goes into its prey's den to kill it, the name was changed to differentiate it from the code-name 'Ferret' that had been used during World War II for radar counter-measures bombers. In brief, the task of a Wild Weasel aircraft is to bait enemy anti-aircraft defences into targeting it with their radars, whereupon the radar waves are traced back to their source, allowing the Weasel or its teammates to precisely target it for destruction. Since then, SEAD and EW has been used in the Gulf Wars an in NATO operations over Bosnia and Kosovo. The unofficial motto of the Wild Weasel crews is 'YGBSM' " 'You Gotta Be Shittin' Me'. This appears prominently on the logo patch of some squadrons. As the story goes, this was the response of Jack Donovan, a former B-52 EWO (Electronic Warfare Officer), whereupon learning that he was to fly back seat to a self-absorbed fighter pilot while acting as flypaper for enemy SAMs, his exact words were: 'I'm gonna fly with you, and we're gonna shoot a SAM site before it shoots us? You gotta be shittin' me'. In this book we examine the background of these specialised roles from World War II, through Vietnam to modern day, and look at the aircraft that undertake them

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General-Dynamics F-111 Aardvark and EF-111A Raven General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark & EF-111A Raven - By Charles Stafrace Controversy and competency is the best way to describe the first variable geometry combat aircraft to enter operational service anywhere in the world. This was the F-111 Aardvark, the typical Cold War 'below the radar' strike bomber. It was born in one of the most politically-motivated and incompetent procurement processes ever, and experienced a troublesome gestation period with spiralling costs in development and production, and an unimpressive first deployment to Vietnam in 1967. Yet, all this was forgotten when the F-111 matured and proved itself to become a devastating weapon and a formidable penetration strike aircraft in its second tour in Southeast Asia in 1972-73, helping to prove that its sophisticated attack and terrain-following radar systems enabled the delivery of a large number of ordnance with unerring accuracy at ultra-low level in a hostile environment. Thus equipped, the F-111's long-range all weather missions on targets in Libya in 1986 and in the Gulf War of 1991 confirmed that the Aardvark had become the spearhead of Tactical Air Command and USAFE, and for many years represented the cutting edge of NATO's deep strike forces. It is enough to say that during the Gulf War only two aircraft types were allowed to attack downtown Baghdad and avert collateral damage: the F-117 and the F-111. The longer-span FB-111 was developed with bombing avionics for undertaking the nuclear delivery role with Strategic Air Command, while later still a major re-do resulted in the EF-111A Raven in which were installed the most sophisticated and state-of-the-art electronic countermeasures and signals jamming systems available to assist in SEAD missions. The swing-wing F-111 was a familiar sight in Britain in the 1980s and early 1990s when it equipped two USAFE wings at Lakenheath and Upper Heyford, the latter base also hosting a squadron of EF-111As during part of the same period. The F-111 tactical strike fighter served with the RAAF as well, and was retired from service as recently as 2010. The F-111 was even ordered by the Royal Air Force in the late 1960s to replace the cancelled TSR.2 but was then itself cancelled at great expense amid nationwide controversy to which a whole chapter is dedicated in this publication. This new Warpaint title explains the F-111's development, service history, failures and successes, in all its versions with both USAF and RAAF, with full text, specification and squadron tables and more than 180 photos, most of which are in colour. This book is written by Charles Stafrace and is superbly illustrated by Richard J.Caruana. [EF-111A Raven F-111A F-111A/F-111B F-111C F-111C/G F-111D / F-111E F-111D/F F-111F F-111G]

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