Specialty Press

Strike From The Sea: U.S. Navy Attack Aircraft from Skyraider to Super Hornet 1948 - Present
by  Tommy H. Thomason
Reviewed By  Mike Hinderliter, IPMS# 45124

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MSRP: $44.95
Hardback, 10 x 10 inches, 228 pages, 375 color and b/w photos and illustrations
ISBN: 978-1-58007-132-1
Website: www.specialtypress.com

Specialty Press has a new book by Tommy Thomason on the history and development of U.S. Navy strike aircraft. It starts out explaining the use of the aircraft carrier and the changing needs of the Navy’s world-wide mission. The book explains the aircraft designations and how aircraft compete and are eventually procured for the Navy. The thing that I really liked best was how it not only showed the aircraft that were actually used but also the aircraft that were in competition for the same job and why the other one was picked over it. I saw aircraft in this book that I had no idea even existed.

This book is divided into 13 well-researched chapters starting with the Navy’s early aircraft and how each aircraft had a specific job to do. Then it goes into the aircraft that started out with the designation A for attack and the multiple mission set ups that they were used for. I also learned that the Skyraider had the distinction of being the Navy’s first attack aircraft and this book follows attack aircraft development all the way to the current F/A-18 Hornet.

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I highly recommend this book for your research library if you are a modeler or an aviation enthusiast. There is just so much information and beautiful photographs. The day that I got it I thumbed through it and saw so many aircraft that I wanted to build. First up will be the F-111B that the Navy only tested and never used. I went to the National convention in Columbus looking for one and I met the book’s author there. Talk about luck; he had also written a book on the Navy F-111B. This book was so good that I automatically picked this other one up. U.S. Navy Strike Aircraft is like opening up a candy store full of ideas.

Thanks to Marie Ray from Specialty Press and IPMS USA for this wonderful book and tool. Also thanks to Tommy Thomason who autographed my copy. You can get your copy calling Specialty Press at 1-800-895-4585 or visiting their web site (www.specialtypress.com) there is a $6.95 shipping and handling fee for each order.