First To Fight Kits FTF108

Westland Lynx in Worldwide Service Part 1 Westland Lynx AH.7, XZ221 'J', 654 Squadron AAC Op Granby/Desert Storm 1991 (Desert camouflage scheme) Westland Lynx AH.7, XZ221, 664 Squadron AAC, UNPROFOR Bosnia 1995 (White UN scheme) Westland Lynx AH.7, XZ221, 664 Squadron, 9 Regiment AAC, SFOR Bosnia 1998 Westland Lynx AH.7, XZ646 of 667 Squadron AAC, IFOR Bosnia 1996 Westland Lynx AH.9A, ZG915 of 9 Regiment AAC Dishforth 2016 Westland Lynx AH.7, XZ612 of 847 NAS, Royal Marines, Op Telic 2003 Westland Lynx HAS.3, XZ231 '23' of 222 Squadron Pakistani Naval Air Arm 1997 Westland Sea Lynx Mk.88A, 83+02 of MFG 5, German Navy 2015 (special nose markings) Westland Sea Lynx Mk.88A, 83_05 of MFG-3 'Graf Zeppelin', German Navy in UN Markings 2006 Westland Sea Lynx Mk.21A, N-4011 of 1st Reconnaissance and Attack Helicopter Squadron, (HA1) of Brazilian Navy 2012 (With UN Markings of Lebanon 2012) Westland Sea Lynx Mk.99, 91-0707 of 62 Air Group Rotary Wing, 627 Helicopter Squadron, South Korean Navy 2003 Westland Sea Lynx 300 Mk.64, 194 of 22 Squadron South African Navy 2016 Westland Sea Lynx 300 Mk.11, M501-5 of 501 Squadron, Malaysian Navy 2013 Westland Sea Lynx Mk.95, 19202 'No Regrets' of Portuguese Navy 2008 (Nose art) Westland Sea Lynx Mk.95, 19204, Portuguese Navy 2010 (Nose art) Westland Lynx HAS.4, 276 of 31F, French Navy 2006 (two tone grey camouflage scheme) Westland Lynx HMA-8, XZ691 of 815 NAS H.M.S. Gloucester Op Telic 2003 Westland Lynx HAS.3GM, XZ230, '335/CF' aboard H.M.S. Cardiff Op Granby/Desert Storm 1991 Westland Lynx HAS.3GM, XZ720 '410/GC' aboard MHS Gloucester Op Granby/Desert Storm 1991

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FROM BATS TO RANGERS A Pictorial History of Electronic Countermeasures Squadron Two (ECMRON-2) Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Two (VQ-2) by Angelo Romano and AMHC (AW) John D. Herndon, USN, Ret. This Pictorial History of US Navy's Electronic Countermeasures Squadron Two (ECMRON-2 or VQ-2), later designated Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Two (FAIRECONRON TWO or VQ-2) by Angelo Romano and AMHC (AW) John D. Herndon, USN, Ret. is the second title of the new U.S. Navy SQUADRON HISTORIES by GINTER BOOKS. The photo coverage of the history of the Electric Bats, also known as the Rangers, is comprehensive, both in terms of photography and in terms of historical content. Much of the squadron's mission was top secret, as were many of its cold war missions, but the authors were able to utilize official (declassified) documents and first-hand accounts to write this book. For completeness, it is also a history of the U.S. Navy Electronic Intelligence gathering activities going back to WWII, beginning with the creation of the Cast Mike (Counter Measures) Project in 1942 and the deployment of early XARD receivers aboard aircraft like the Consolidated PBY Catalina and PB4Y Liberator. After WWII, the Navy started to use the Privateers as dedicated ELINT platforms and assigned them to two special units operating jointly with the National Security Group. One of these units, designated Port Lyautey Patrol Unit (NPU), was based at Naval Air Activities Port Lyautey, in French Morocco. It was first assigned modified PB4Y-1s and later, the Martin P4M-1Q Mercator. The NPU teamed with the Naval Security Group's Naval Communications Unit 32 George (NCU32G), which provided the ELINT equipment installed on board and the crew to operate them, mostly for covert operations around Europe and the Mediterranean. When the NPU reached its full complement of four P4M-1Qs, the unit and NCU32G, needed to have an administrative identity for budgetary and logistics purposes. Airborne Early Warning Squadron TWO (VW-2), based at NAS Patuxent River, was therefore selected to be its "mother" squadron. On 1 May 1953, NPU Port Lyautey became VW-2 Detachment A (or DET ABLE). In 1955, the Navy decided to establish a dedicated squadron for the unique mission rather than continue with a detachment: Electronic Countermeasures Squadron TWO (ECMRON TWO) was established on 1 Sep 1955. ECMRON TWO was assigned the alphanumeric designation "VQ-2". Its mission was to conduct electronic-search in support of fleet operations to obtain adequate and timely information on enemy radar, communications, and other emissions in support of fleet operations. The Squadron inherited the P4M-1Qs from VW-2 DET A and acquired a Lockheed P2V Neptune for utility purposes. On 1 Jan 1960, EMCRON TWO was redesignated Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron TWO (FAIRECONRON TWO) but still retained the alphanumeric designation "VQ-2". In 1956, VQ-2 received its first Douglas A3D-1Q Skywarrior, followed in 1957 by one A3D-1. In 1958, the Squadron received the Lockheed P2V-5F Neptune to augment the P4M-1Qs. The more capable A3D-2Q/EA-3B arrived in 1959 followed by the big Lockheed WV-2Q/EC-121M Constellation in 1960. The first Lockheed EP-3E ARIES arrived in 1971 and the squadron continued to fly this aircraft until disestablishment in 2012. The VQ-2 history and all worldwide events surrounding it are very well described and documented. This 242-page book contains 180 B&W and 444 color photos, most never published before. Thirty-seven superbly detailed aircraft color profiles show the evolution of the color schemes and markings and the different aircraft types and sub-types, providing very useful information for the benefit of both modelers and aviation historians. The inclusion of many squadron patches completes this masterpiece. THE AUTHORS Angelo Romano Angelo has authored six books: Wings from Coral Sea (Golden Wing Publications, 1986), Naval Fighters (Osprey, 1990), Naval Air Weapons Meet 1956-1959 (Model Publishing, 2006), First and Foremost - An illustrated History of Carrier Air Wing One - CVW-1 Part One 1934-1957 (Model Publishing, 2006), CVW-1 Part Two 1957-1973 (Model Publishing, 2008), and Black Knights Rule! (BKR) - A Pictorial History of VBF-718 / VF-68A / VF-837 / VF-154 / VFA-154 - 1946-2013 (Ginter Books, 2014). John D. Herndon AMHC (AW) Retired U.S. Navy John joined the U.S. Navy in 1978, Assigned to VQ-2 a total of 13 years E-1 to E-7, deployed to six Aircraft carriers in support of the EA-3B aircraft. Additionally deployed to locations all around the world in support of the EP-3E aircraft, Maintenance Control, Aircraft Division and Detachment Leading Chief Petty Officer. Retired out of VQ-2 his last tour which ended in 2000, went on to civilian life, employers ATA and American Airlines and finally the FAA as an Aviation Safety Inspector, currently the Boeing 787 Fleet Program Manager overseeing United Airlines safety compliance. Very involved over the years in collecting VQ-2 information/ history, assisted in raising funds and restoring a VQ-2 EA-3B Aircraft in Fort Worth Texas Ranger 15 BuNo 146453.

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Dassault-Mirage IIIRD 33-TG "90000h Dassault-Mirage IIIR.RD" ER 3/33 Moselle 1988. On 1988, the lasts Dassault-Mirage IIIR and RD are near to be retired of French Air Force. The reconnaissance squadron ER 3/33 "Moselle" based on Airbase 124 of Strasbourg-Entzheim is then on conversion on Dassault-Mirage F-1CR. For the event of 90000 Flight hours on Dassault-Mirage IIIR et RD, and their next retirement, the Dassault-Mirage IIIRD #358 is specially black painted with gold marks and large BR11 "Cocotte" badge on bottom side. This decals set contain all markings to complete this aircraft. Two options are included, permitting the choice to complete the "cocotte" by decals or by paint. The Dassault-Mirage IIIRD is a version of Dassault-Mirage R equiped with doppler radar of Dassault-Mirage IIIE installed under the nose.

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Republic F-84F Thunderstreak and RF-84F Thunderflash. Fraught with engine and aerodynamic teething problems that resulted in its missing the Korean War for which it was intended, the F-84F Thunderstreak, initially seen as languishing in the shadow of the more well-known and proven F-86 Sabre, matured to become a formidable fighter-bomber that served not only with the USAF's Tactical and Strategic Air Commands, but also with numerous European air forces for many of which it also offered the first experience in swept wing jet fighter operation. It provided a much-needed deterrent during the critical early years of the Cold War and the 1960s, especially with NATO air forces, where it normally replaced its straight-wing predecessor, the F-84 Thunderjet. No fewer than 2,711 examples of the Thunderstreak were built, so that for a time it was the fighter most in widespread use in Europe, becoming the backbone of the Alliance's combat element. In contrast, its service with the USAF was rather short-lived when newer fighters such as the F-100 Super Sabre and F-4 Phantom with superior and supersonic performance supplanted it in service. However, with the outbreak of the Vietnam War, when these modern fighters and the USAF's other more valuable combat aircraft were deployed to Southeast Asia, the USAF recalled the Thunderstreak for another spell of frontline service in defence of mainland United States. It was only the French who used it in anger when it carried out strikes on Egyptian targets during the Suez Crisis of 1956. Sharing the Thunderstreak's main characteristics including its vices and virtues, its offshoot, the RF-84F Thunderflash, was considered to be the best photo-reconnaissance fighter of its time, capable of carrying six cameras in its abundant nose in 15 different combinations. The Thunderflash, too, was exported to most of NATO's air forces, as well as to the Republic of China Air Force where it carried out routine overflights over mainland Communist China in a hostile environment. The French, too, used it in a firing war, again in Suez, while the Turkish Air Force similarly employed it during its brief war with Greece in 1974. Again, the advent of such types as the RF-101 recce Voodoo and the RF-4C Phantom replaced it in USAF service, while the F-104 was the type that most replaced it in NATO air arms. But both the Thunderstreak and Thunderflash remained in service for a long period in some of the European air forces, the last Thunderflash being retired from the Greek Air Force in 1991. This latest Warpaint title gives an account of these two types' service, with detailed lists of serials, squadron service, production and variants in 80 pages of text accompanied by no fewer than 190 colour and B&W photos, eight pages of colour artwork by and foldout scale drawings, describing the development and operational career of these remarkable aircraft. This book is written by Charles Stafrace and is superbly illustrated by Richard J.Caruana.

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