The General Dynamics F-111 was one of the most technically innovative designs among military aircraft, introducing the variable-sweep wing, terrain-following radar, military-rated afterburning turbofan engines and a self-contained escape module among other features. Designed as a cost-saving, multi-role interceptor, naval fighter and strike bomber, its evolution prioritised the latter role and it became the USAF's most effective long-range strike aircraft during three decades of service. Rushed into combat in Vietnam before some of its structural issues were fully understood, the type suffered several early losses and gained an unfairly negative reputation that dogged it for the rest of its career, and restricted funding for more advanced versions of the design. However, in Operation Linebacker in 1972 the F-111 flew 4000 nocturnal under-the-radar missions, delivering, with unprecedented accuracy, many decisive blows that would have resulted in heavy losses for any other attack aircraft.

F-111s based in England flew the longest fighter combat mission in history against the Libyan capital Tripoli in 1986, and in 1991 the aircraft was one of the most important Coalition warplanes in the successful Desert Storm campaign.

About the Author
Peter E Davies has published 20 books and several magazine articles, concentrating on modern combat aircraft and the Vietnam War. He has written seven previous Osprey titles and co-authored two others. The F-4 Phantom II in all its variants has been a main topic in eight of his previous books and he has close connections with former members of the F-4 Phantom II community


Book Information
ISBN 9781782003472
Author Rolando Ugolini
Format Paperback
Page Count 96
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Weight(grams) 360g
Dimensions(mm) 248mm * 184mm * 7mm