Air to Air Missiles, Development and Combat Across 80 Years Volume 2: First Generation and Early Experiences, 1944-1959

This is the second of six volumes detailing the 80-year history of air-to-air missiles (AAM) as combat aircraft weapons. It is the only comprehensive book on this subject. The first volume provides the technical description of AAM, describes how they are developed and fielded, the tactics for employing them, and an appreciation for why so many AAM shots miss their target. That content lays the foundation for understanding the subsequent volumes, but each also stands alone. Volume 2 describes the development and fielding of AAM during the Second World War and the early post-war period by all countries participating. Each new missile type and model of the period are described with motivation to undertake the program, details of development including flight test, a general description, advantages and disadvantages, production and fielding where applicable, and service experience. A table of characteristics, technical diagrams, and photographs of the weapons and installation on fighter aircraft are provided. Each missile is also illustrated with a profile line drawing with scale. The combat record with these earliest missiles is then reviewed with background on the conflict, the aircraft in combat with the AAM, and then tables of ‘kills.’ Period photographs of the combat aircraft with AAM is included. All this lends an appreciation of the evolution of AAM, technologically and via combat experience, as supported by this first generation of missiles. It naturally leads to the next volume and subsequent generation of AAM.