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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 623.7464
EAN num: 9781841768021
ISBN number: 1841768022
Label: Osprey Publishing
Manufacturer: Osprey Publishing
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 96
Printing Date: May 25, 2004
Publishing house: Osprey Publishing
Release Date: May 25, 2004
Sale Popularity Level: 831877
Studio: Osprey Publishing
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
The F-15C/E has formed the backbone of US and Coalition operations in the Middle East for over a decade, patrolling the skies over northern and southern Iraq as part of Operations Northern Watch and Southern Watch. F-15Cs policed the skies for Iraqi aircraft operating in contravention of no-fly zone agreements, whilst the F-15E was constantly dropping weapons onto the Iraqi SAM and AAA emplacements that engaged Coalition aircraft undertaking this mission. The USAF’s use of the F-15 in the region culminated with Operation Iraqi Freedom, which was launched in mid March 2003 in order to liberate the people of Iraq and ensure the destruction of Saddam Hussein’s alleged weapons of mass destruction. In doing so, the F-15C was used to protect friendly troops and aircraft from any last-ditch endeavor to use the Iraqi Air Force. In the event, the F-15Es of the 4th Fighter Wing saw most prolific use, engaging Iraqi armour before Coalition ground troops moved forward, and providing close air support to soldiers and Special Forces as they came into contact with the enemy.
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Rated by buyers -
`F-15C/E Eagle Units of Operation Iraqi Freedom' is Osprey Publications' latest volume (No. 47) in their Combat Aircraft Series and Steve Davies' third book on the F-15 subject.
Like the title says, the book decribes the operational environment of both the F-15C and the F-15E during Operation `Iraqi Freedom' but the focus is clearly on the F-15E Strike Eagle. Which is no surprise, since the author has outstanding connections to the Strike Eagle community at Seymour Johnson AFB (which is the home to the two F-15E squadrons that participated in the conflict) and because it was the F-15E Strike Eagle that played the dominating role in the theatre.
His direct acess to the men and women of the 335th Fighter Squadron `Chiefs' and the 336th Fighter Squadron `Rocketeers' enabled the author to write a description of the units' operational environment in the theatre of unparalled accuracy. Interviews with those involved describing their experiences during the conflict give the book a `thrilling' component, bringing back memories of reading William L. Smallwood's fascinating Operation Desert Storm books.
`We were already climbing up to conserve fuel on the way home, and I had barely finished my turn when the RWR (Radar Warning Receiver) screamed its stuttering wail in my headset. The noise chilled me to the bone - it was the missile launch tone. Before I looked at the RWR itself, my eyes cued in on the blazingly blue warning light on the instrument panel, located just below the glareshield at eye level. It is only the size of a dime, but the grey words backlit on the square blue light jumped out at me larger than life - "SAM". At the same time my WSO "Maddog" shouted "ROLAND!".
Hairraising quotes like this one from an interview with `Hacker', a F-15E pilot who was shot at with two `Roland' surface-to-air missiles ripple-fired one after the other by Iraqi ground forces south of Bagdad, make it almost impossible to lay down the book before the last page. All 6 Chapters of the book are incredibly interesting to read and contain highly accurate and informative text plus more than 90 photographs, mostly taken by aircrews during their deployment or the author himself.
The book's very first chapter `Eagle Genealogy', gives a short introduction into the F-15 Eagle history and technology providing the not up-to-date reader with the level of information on the aircraft he needs to continue with the following chapters. As for the F-15E Strike Eagle, the chapter is a very brief summary of the author's previously released book `Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle - All-Weather Attack Aircraft'.
After this little update on (Strike) Eagle technology, the reader is well prepared for the following chapters of the book. Chapter two "Watchful Eyes" summarizes the activity of F-15C Eagle and F-15E Strike Eagle units in the theatre during Operations 'Northern Watch' and 'Southern Watch'. This gives the author the opportunity to discuss the final deployments of
F-15Cs to the Persian Gulf, since it was the F-15E that played the main role once Operation `Iraqi Freedom' began.
Chapter three `The "Dirty" Deid', deals with the Rocketeers' and Chiefs' deployment to Al-Udeid, Qatar, which would be their home in the theatre for the month ahead. The author describes the new operational environment at Al-Udeid, the squadrons' practicing for their new tasks and their preparation for upcoming Operation 'Iraqi Freedom'.
All aspects of F-15E Strike Eagle activity during Operation 'Iraqi Freedom' are covered in chapter four 'Non-traditional Warfare'. With its 47 pages alone, it is the main chapter of this book, describing the various types of missions F-15E crews were flying during the conflict including AGM Strikes, FAC, SCAR, KI, CAS, Urban CAS, airfield attacks, SCUD Hunting, or DCA and Escort. Besides the already mentioned photographs, the author illustrated this chapter with aircraft profiles (by artist Chris Davey) of no less then 18 different 335th FS and 336th FS F-15E airframes (plus 3 F-15C airframes) mostly with colorful nosearts, not missing to describe the background of each aircraft. Talking of nosearts, photographs of many
F-15E nosearts carried by 335th FS and 336th FS aircraft during the conflict are featured in a 'Colour Nose Art Gallery'. The most thrilling part of the chapter is when F-15E pilot 'Hacker' tells his hairraising story of his double Roland encounter (see qoute above) adding a cockpit voice recording transcript of the incident.
In the fifth and last chapter of the book, Steve Davies makes us 'Looking to the Future'. He describes new avionic and weapon systems which are waiting to be introduced to the F-15E, making the mighty Strike Eagle even more powerful.
Conclusion
Without a question, 'F-15C/E Eagle Units of Operation Iraqi Freedom' is a very well-done book that I can't recommend highly ... Read More
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