First To Fight Kits FTF113

Hunting the Terrorists. Hunting the Terrorists 'Coalition Air Power on ISIS/DAESH in Syria and Iraq.' Bumper Sheet with full colour instruction booklet. Stunning Decals and artwork by Jon Freeman and printed by Fantasy Printshop. Featuring: Dassault_Mirage 2000D - 342/'125-BA of EC 2/4 La Fayette , French Air Force, Based at Azraq Air Base, Jordan, 2015. Dassault Rafale B - 322/'4-HU' of Escadron de Chasse (EC) 1/4 'Gascogne', Armee de l'Air, Based at Prince Hassan Air Base, Jordan, 2018. Bell CH-146 Griffon - 146413, of 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, Canadian Armed Forces, Based at Camp �°rable, Iraq, 2016. McDonnell-Douglas CF-188A Hornet - 188795 of 409 Squadron, Canadian Forces, based in Kuwait, 2014. McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18A HUG+ - A21-16 of 3 Squadron, RAAF, Based at Al Minhad Air Base, United Arab Emirates, 2017. Boeing F-18F Super Hornet - A44-210 of 1 Squadron, RAAF, Based at Al Minhad Air Base, United Arab Emirates, 2016. (With 1 Sqn RAAF 100th Year Special Tail) Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk - 68822/N48-009/'09' of 816 Naval Air Squadron, Flight 1, Royal Australian Navy, based aboard HMAS Toowoomba, Southern Arabian Gulf 2020. Boeing F-18F Super Hornet - 166663 of VFA-213, 'Black Lions', United States Navy, Based aboard USS George H. W. Bush, 2016. Grumman EA-6B Prowler - 161885, of VMAQ-4, US Marine Corps based at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, August, 2016. McDonnell F-15E Strike Eagle - 9-0487,SJ', of 335th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Wing, 4th Operations Group, USAF, Based at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, Jordan, September, 2019. Fairchild A-10C Thunderbolt II, 78-0633/'ID' of 190th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, 124th Fighter Wing, Idaho ANG, USAF, Based at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, December, 2016. Dassault_Mirage 2000-9EAD, '724' of United Arab Emirates Air Force, based at Al-Ain Air Base, United Arab Emirates, 2015. Lockheed-Martin F-16C Block 52 Fighting Falcon, 12-0004/'1607' of Iraqi Air Force, 2015. Lockheed-Martin F-16C Block 50 Fighting Falcon, 07-1005 of 181 Filo, Turkish Air Force, based at Diyarbakir Air Base, Turkey, during 'Operation Martyr Yal��A�n', 24��½"25 July 2015. Panavia Tornado ECR - Panavia Tornado ECR, 46+28 of Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51, Luftwaffe, Based at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan 2016/17

More

Building the Republic P-47D Thunderbolt. The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt Big, powerful, and truly a juggernaut of an aircraft, resulting in its appropriate nickname 'Jug', the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was one of the really great warplanes of its generation. Alongside the superlative North-American P-51 Mustang and the twin-engined Lockheed P-38 Lightning, it was one of the three principal fighter types which the US Army Air Forces (USAAF) successfully operated in the later stages of World War Two. The initial production version was the P-47B, and examples of this type started to reach the USAAF's 56th Fighter Group in June 1942. The first really combat-ready model was the refined and slightly longer P-47C, which entered service later in 1942. Like all front-line P-47 versions it packed a formidable punch of four 0.5in M2 Browning machine guns in each wing, although early models did not carry the wing pylons that became so important later in the Thunderbolt's combat career. The first P-47C examples to reach Britain for the US Eighth Army Air Force did so in December 1942, followed by what became the main combat model of the Thunderbolt, the P-47D, in April 1943. Weighing in at some 15,000lb (6,804kg) fully loaded and powered by the R-2800-59 Double Wasp of 2,000hp, the P-47D was a big, powerful beast. Water injection introduced for some versions of the R-2800 would see even greater power on demand when needed in aerial combat. All of these early Thunderbolts had the 'razorback' high line rear fuselage pioneered with the P-35 and P-43, with a rearwards-sliding heavily framed cockpit canopy. Although the USAAF at first saw the Thunderbolt as a high altitude interceptor, its main initial role very soon became that of daylight bomber escort with the England- based Eighth Air Force, which was in great need of escort fighters for its B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators that were increasingly facing stiff Luftwaffe fighter opposition. he Thunderbolt helped to turn the tide for the US daylight bombing offensive during 1943 and early 1944, with a number of P-47 pilots gaining impressive scores in air-to-air combat against Luftwaffe fighters. Eventually the appearance of the Merlin-engined P-51B Mustang and later versions of the superb Mustang long-range fighter resulted in the Eighth Air Force almost completely re-equipping its fighter groups with the P-51, but the Eighth's 56th Fighter Group continued to fly the Thunderbolt right up to the end of the war in Europe in May 1945. The Eighth Air Force also pioneered the P-47 for air-to-ground operations as a part of its policy of taking the fight to the Luftwaffe, and additional to this the Thunderbolt eventually equipped several fighter groups specifically for fighter-bomber operations within the tactical England-based US Ninth Air Force. The P-47 proved to be a formidable fighter-bomber due to its impressive eight-gun armament, bomb load and ability to survive enemy fire. The underwing pylons that proved so useful for long-range fuel tanks were equally at home carrying a 500lb (227kg) bomb (one under each wing), and the Ninth Air Force in particular used this capability to devastating effect against German tactical targets before and after D-Day. 'Razorback' Thunderbolts additionally equipped USAAF units in Italy, the Pacific (including exceptional use by the Fifth Air Force), and the China-Burma-India theatre (CBI). Continuing development of the P-47 design led to the adoption later in P-47D manufacture of a cut- down rear fuselage spine and all-round vision 'bubbletop' canopy. This resulted in a further series of later Thunderbolt versions with even greater range and capabilities, but many 'razorback' P-47s nevertheless continued in service right to the war's end " some pilots in fact preferring the 'razorback' to the later models particularly for their better directional stability. Other important users of the Thunderbolt in World War Two included the Soviet Union, the RAF and the Free French. This seventh book in the highly successful MA Extra Series contains fourteen showcase and step by step model builds and will be a must for any P-47 aficionado!

More

Potez 63 1. Potez 63.11 No.366 (C-865) of G.R. II/14 bearing both insignia of 3/13 and 4/13 Sqn. on the fin Avignon 1941. 2. Potez 631 C3 Part 4: Escadrille, GCN II/13, Armee de l'Air number: 186, 2, X-955 (N186) Nimes Courbessac, July 1940-g. 3. Potez 63.11 Part 2: Escadrille, GR I/52 No. 4 (N357), 1940. 4. Potez 63.11 part: GAO I/583 number: 1 (N?) Aleppo, Syria early 1941. 5. Potez 63.11 Free French Fighter Flight No.2, RAF Serial: Ax673 Haifa, December 1940. 6. Potez 63-11 Part: not available number: G-717 Aircraft was used as a training (for advanced training) in 1943, the 'G 'Prefix in a side room means 'Gyarkori 'camp. 1943 g. like many other aircraft, it was used as an auxiliary. 7. Potez 63-11 part: Reggia Aeronautica Room: no data 1943 g. Note that typically Italian aircraft were not under the wings of white boxes under the markings. Apparently in this case, they are closing the OZ the previous owners. This type of aircraft was used only for training and usually carried two white strips on the wings-belonging of flight school.

More

Messerschmitt Bf-109. Spanish War 1. Bf-109B2 2.J88 Condor Legion 6x60 Herbert Schob La Cenia Spain late 1938. RLM 77, RLM 65. 2. Bf-109D-1 of 3/J 88, Spain, November 1938 Pilot, Hauptmann (Captain) Werner Molder. RLM 62, RLM 65. 3. Bf-109D-1 2.J/88, Legion Condor - Gotthard Handrick (5 victories). 18 June 1937 - 10 September 1938. RLM 62, RLM 65. 4. Bf-109D-1 "Legion Condor" Fighter Group Commander 88 Pilot: Hauptmann Walter Grabmann (final score 7), late 1938, Spain. RLM 62, RLM 65. 5. Me 109D 1/J 88, Spain, August 1938. Pilot, Oblt. (Lieutenant) Otto Bertram. This aircraft was shot down on October 4, 1938. 6. Bf-109V-3 Obit. Hannes Traufloft, J/88, Sivilla/ Tablada airfield, December 1936. One of the first Bf-109s to go to Spain was the Bf-109V-3 flown by Trautloft. Finish was factory standard light grey with Spanish markings applied and This eventually became the emblem of JG 54. The spinner is brown and white with a green tip. 7. Bf-109D 1/J 88, Spain, June 1938.Pilot Lieutenant Wolfgang Schellmann. RLM 62, RLM 65. 8. Bf-109 B-1 2/J 88, Spain, spring 1937. Pilot, Unteroffizier Norbert Flegel. 9. Bf-109B-1 of 2/J 88, Spain 1937.This device was captured by the Republicans and tested by the French to join the Russia. 10. Bf-109B-2 of 2/J 88, Spain, July 1937.Pilot, Unteroffizer (Sergeant) Wilhelm Staege. 11. Bf-109B-2 from 1/J 88, Spain, 1938 Pilot, Hauptmann (Captain) Harro Harder.

More

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.

More

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.

More