Jim Winchester – författare

The Skyhawk first entered service with the US Navy almost 50 years ago. It is still in service with various US units and remains the backbone of many of the air forces of those countries to which it has been exported. It was originally conceived as a carrier-borne fighter bomber, but as the aircraft has evolved it has taken on other roles.This is an in-depth look at the design, production, evolution, operation and performance of the aircraft. It will also include first-hand accounts of flying the Skyhawk in action.

This "unnerving exposé" of a lost American nuclear bomb "is a valuable contribution to the history of the navy, the cold war, and nuclear weapons" (Booklist). On December 5th, 1965, the USS Ticonderoga was on its way from Vietnam to Japan, practicing nuclear combat procedures along the way. A young pilot from Ohio strapped into an A-4 Skyhawk bomber for a routine simulated mission. But after mishandling the maneuver, the plane and its pilot sunk to the bottom of the South China sea, along with a live B43 one-megaton thermonuclear bomb. A cover-up mission began as rumors of sabotage began to circulate.  The incident, known as a ''Broken Arrow'', was kept under wraps for twenty-five years. The details that emerged caused a diplomatic incident, revealing that the U.S. had violated agreements not to bring nuclear weapons into Japan.  Broken Arrow tells the story of Ticonderoga''s sailors and airmen, the dangers of combat missions and shipboard life, and the accident that threatened to wipe her off the map and blow US-Japanese relations apart. For the first time, through previously classified documents, never before published photos of the accident aircraft and the recollections of those who were there, the story of carrier aviation''s only ''Broken Arrow'' is told in full.

From early jets to the F-22 Raptor, from the Centurion A41 tank to the Bradley M2, from aircraft carriers to nuclear submarines, Military Aircraft, Tanks & Warships Visual Encyclopedia is a fascinating guide to aircraft, tanks and ships from the beginning of the Cold War to the present day. Arranged by type and then chronologically within each type, each entry or variant is illustrated with an excellent full-colour artwork, showing in great detail its characteristics and markings, and completed with an informative caption and technical specifications. Ranging from the Korean War to Vietnam, from India and Pakistan to the Arab-Israeli conflict, from the Falklands to Afghanistan and Iraq, the book includes main battle tanks, tank destroyers, armoured personnel carriers, amphibious tanks, fighter jets, interceptors, bombers, transport aircraft, Stealth bombers, aircraft carriers, destroyers and submarines. With 850 outstanding colour artworks, Military Aircraft, Tanks & Warships Visual Encyclopedia is an authoritatively researched book that will appeal to anyone with an interest in modern military technology.