Osprey Combat Aircraft Series SC (1997-2011 OSPREY) comic books 2008

Volume 70 - 1st printing. "F-14 Tomcat Units of Operation Enduring Freedom!" Written by Tony Holmes. Art by Jim Laurier. The legendary F-14 Tomcat was the weapon of choice to strike against the enemies of the United States in the wake of the September 11 attacks, with F-14s flying thousands of bombing missions on al-Qaeda and Taliban positions. Written by aviation expert Tony Holmes, this book explores the F-14 pilots and aircraft involved in Operation Enduring Freedom, with insights into the tactical approach and strategic aims provided by officers. Exclusive access to mission reports, combat diaries, fullcolour artwork and photographs from the author's collection reveal the battle experiences of the most famous modern fast jet. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 71 - 1st printing. "Il-2 Shturmovik Guards Units of World War 2!" Written by Oleg Rastrenin. Art by Andrey Yurgenson. Over 43,000 Il-2/10s were built between 1941 and 1955, more than any other combat aircraft in history, making this one of the most important Soviet aircraft deployed in World War II. Built originally as a two-seater, the Il-2 had lost the rear gunner's position by the time it started to reach frontline units. Armed with ground-attack rockets, the aircraft proved deadly against Wehrmacht panzers as pairs of Il-2s roamed the frontline at low level. However, the Shturmoviks (armoured attackers) were vulnerable to attack from the rear by enemy fighters, so Ilyushin reverted to the two-seat layout in September 1942. Oleg Rastrenin provides a fascinating account of the complex development history of a plane that was crucial to Russia's defence. From Stalingrad to Kursk to Berlin, this book charts the aeroplane's vital contribution to the most famous battles of the Eastern front. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 73 - 1st printing. "B-26 Marauder Units of the MTO!" Written by Mark Styling. Art by Mark Postlethwaite. The revolutionary design of the B-26, with its seemingly impossibly short and dangerous wingspan initially gained it a reputation as a 'widow maker'. However, improvements to the design and the development of effective combat tactics enabled these units to make the B-26 a very effective and safe combat aircraft which went on to play a major role in the defeat of Axis forces in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany. Packed with first-hand accounts and rare previously unpublished photographs, this book examines how hastily trained crews proved the B-26 to be a highly reliable, effective medium bomber, establishing the Marauder as one of the truly great aircraft of World War II. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 74 - 1st printing. "Junkers Ju 87 Stukageschwader of the Russian Front!" By John Weal. This first volume of the Osprey trilogy on the Luftwaffe dive-bomber charts its fortunes in the toughest theatre of all: the Eastern Front. Written by John Weal, a leading authority on the Luftwaffe, this book examines how, following its comprehensive defeat over the English Channel in the summer of 1940, the Stuka was able to restore its fearsome reputation over the Eastern Front. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 76 - 1st printing. "Lockheed SR-71 Operations in the Far East!" Written by Paul F Crickmore. Art by Chris Davey. Even before the first operational flight of the U-2 spy plane, aircraft designers began work on the type's replacement. The result was the SR-71. First deployed on March 9, 1968, this tri-sonic 'hotrod' flew its first operational sortie over North Vietnam just 12 days later. Thereafter, the SR-71 roamed freely, capturing photographic, radar and electronic intelligence. This book examines the impact this aircraft had, not only on North Vietnam but during the Cold War as a whole, gathering information about the Soviet nuclear submarine fleet based in Vladivostok as well as the port's defenses, monitoring the actions of North Korea and flying four 11-hour, non-stop sorties into the Persian Gulf during the Iran-Iraq War in the late 1980s. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.