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Dear readers,
It has been almost four years since the first volume a Yankee Air Pirates was published, on October 28, 2013. It has been an incredible journey, that we tried to depict in the early posts of our Yankee Air Pirates blog. We could never have imagined that we would manage to write books in English (not our mother tongue), and have them published! The second volume was published on November 28, 2015, and both books received very warm reviews from our readers. We attempted to write the books we wish we had when we started collecting USAF memorabilia of the Vietnam War.
A third volume has been written. We are still discussing with Schiffer Books to get it printed. This last volume is about Fighter units (mind blowing F-105 and F-4 stories), Reconnaissance, Advisory Teams to name a few. AND FLIGHT GEAR! Helmets, Anti-G, oxygen masks, parachutes, harnesses, survival vests, survival equipment … Everything you wanted to know to complete that F-4 or F-105 impression will appear in the third volume.
However, we are not sure if Schiffer wants it since they were expecting higher sales on the first two volumes. Thus we do need support from the collector’s community. If the sales increase, we may have the opportunity to publish the third volume. If not… It will take years for someone else to gather the information and equipment and the items presented (it took us about 25 years each). It is probable that nothing else will be done in the future on the topic and at that scale.
We need your help to make this book series a success, and to make it complete! If you already bought the books, a review on Amazon would be very much appreciated as well. You can also follow us on our blog and/or facebook page. There you will find articles about items that did not make it in the books, and news about the book series.
In the meantime, let’s review the volumes that are already available:
Volume One deals with the following units:
- Command & Control, Tactical Control (how it was organized)
- Forward Air Control (the eyes of the USAF)
- Rescue (ARRS, PJs)
- Electronic Warfare (surveillance of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, MiG warning…)
- Air Police/Security Police units (the protection of the bases in Vietnam, the Tet Offensive…)
- Last but not the least, an extensive chapter offers a detailed review of uniforms (jungle and OG-107, suits…), headgear, and footwear, referenced by model and date. Most of the uniforms depicted were used by the Army too!
- 300++ pages, 900++ photos
For those of you who are not necessarily interested in flying units but have an interest in groud units of the Vietnam War, the section about the Air/Security Police offers a very detailed depiction of the uniforms, insignia and gear used by these seldom known warriors.
Where to find it:
In the US:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/yankee-air-pirates-olivier-bizet/1113888542
In the UK:
https://www.gazellebookservices.co.uk/GazelleBooks/sresult.pgm
In France:
http://librairie-hussard.com/catalog/yankee-pirates-p-101954.html
In Germany:
Excerpts from Yankee Air Pirates volume 1: FAC, Electronic Warfare, Radar units, Air/Security Police, Uniforms and much more!
Volume Two is about:
- USAF bases in Vietnam and Thailand (which unit was assigned and when)
- Aerial port Squadrons (transportation, delivery, Combat Control Teams)
- Medical (hospitals, civic action…)
- Tactical Airlift (aerial supply)
- Air Commando (everything you wanted to know about Special Ops, Skyraiders, AC-130, SOG support…)
- Strategic Air Command (B-52, strategic reconnaissance and refueling)
- POWs
- And a last chapter about insignia in general (ranks, wings, River Rats, Yankee Air Pirates, novelty and local made stuff…)
- 300++ pages, 1.200++ photos
Where to find it:
In the US:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/yankee-air-pirates-olivier-bizet/1125061632
In the UK:
https://www.gazellebookservices.co.uk/GazelleBooks/sresult.pgm
In France:
In Germany:
Excerpts from Yankee Air Pirates volume 2: Bases, Medical, Tactical Airlift, Air Commando/Special Operation, Strategic Air Command, Insignia.
Again, thanks for your support!
François and Olivier