Gerard Paloque Boeken

The MiG-21 originated with an official request from the Soviet authorities in 1954 for a light, high-performance (Mach 2 at 20 000 m) frontline fighter to protect military and production installations from potential raids by American bombers.

This book is dedicated to all groups of 8th Air Force based in Britain from 1943 to 1945 and examines their devices: Spitfire, P-38, P-47 and P-51; with many colour profiles, detailing badges and specific markings. A valuable tool for all designers.

Created in 1942, and immediately placed under the command of General Doolittle, the 12th Air Force was responsible for conducting Operation Torch on November 8, 1942.

At the beginning of the Korean War, the west discovered the MiG-15, the first mass-produced jet fighter built in the Soviet Union. This small device entered service at the end of 1950 in its improved version, the MiG-15bis, and in turn was quickly deployed to Korea where, with its powerful armament and handling, it was an unpleasant surprise for the forces of the United Nations, after finding their air superiority with the arrival of the latest version of the famous F-86 Sabre. While the "bundle" - a nickname given by NATO to the MiG-15 - was barely in use, MiG conceived its successor, the more efficient and wing modified MiG-17 ("Fresco"). The type was withdrawn from service in the USSR in the late sixties, however it had great success abroad. The "Fresco" was the most exported Soviet fighter until the arrival of its indirect successor, MiG-21 (see Planes & Pilots No. 12).