Osprey Frontline Colour SC (1999-2002) comic books

Volume 1 - 1st printing. "F-51 Mustang Units over Korea!" Written by Warren Thompson. Art by Mike Badrocke. When the Korean War erupted in late June 1950, the USAF's standard fighter in the Far East was the F-80 Shooting Star. Although the F-80 mastered the North Korean Air Force, its lack of endurance resulted in the USAF rushing 145 obsolescent F-51 (nee P-51) Mustangs to Korea to serve principally in ground attack and reconnaissance roles for the USAF, the South African Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, and the embryonic Republic of Korea Air Force. By the time the war ended in 1953, some 194 Mustangs had been lost, most to anti-aircraft fire. These F-5 is were some of the most colorful Mustangs to ever see action, and the author has used his extensive contact base to accumulate the largest private collection of Korean War period color material in the world. Accompanying the photos are detailed captions, quotes from pilots, full appendices listing the units and F-51s that served in Korea, plus specifications, cutaways of the aircraft, and cockpit diagrams. Softcover, 8-in. x 9-in., 128 pages, Text (with Color and B&W photos) Cover price $19.95.

Volume 2 - 1st printing. "F-86 Sabre Fighter-Bomber Units over Korea!" Written by Warren Thompson. Concentrates on F86F fighter-bombers in Korea. Accompanying the photos in the book are detailed captions, quotes from pilots in action and listings of the various units that served in Korea, plus specifications and cutaways of the aircraft flown.. Softcover, 8-in. x 9-in., 128 pages, Text (with Color photos) Cover price $19.95.

Volume 3 - 1st printing. "F-84 Thunderjet Units Over Korea!" Written by Warren Thompson. The straightwinged F-84 traces its lineage back to the heavyweight World War II P-47 Thunderbolt. It was among the most colourful aircraft to see action in Korea and the book features many photos from the author's private collection as well as specially commissioned cutaway illustrations. Softcover, 8-in. x 9-in., 128 pages, Text (with Color photos) Cover price $19.95.

Volume 4 - 1st printing. "B-26 Invader Units over Korea!" Written by Warren Thompson. Although a hangover from World War II, the seemingly antiquated B-26 Invader proved to be one of the hardest-worked assets employed by the UN forces in Korea for the duration of the conflict. Indeed, B-26s of the 3rd Bomber Group had the distinction of being the first aircraft to drop ordnance on the North Koreans within hours of the communist invasion of the south. Capable of dropping bombs and napalm, firing off unguided rockets or simply strafing targets with its battery of .50-cal Browning guns, the B-26 was equally as effective during the day or at night. Over 200 bomber and reconnaissance variants saw action in Korea, and many were adorned with some of the most colourful nose art ever carried by American combat aircraft in any war. This volume includes a gallery of this artwork, with text outlining the exploits of the pilots featured, and appendices listing the units involved. Softcover, 8-in. x 9-in., 128 pages, Text (with Color photos) Cover price $19.95.

Volume 5 - 1st printing. "F-80 Shooting Star Units over Korea!" Written by Warren Thompson. The Usaf's first successful jet fighter, the F-80 actually made a name for itself in combat as a strike bomber during the Korean War. A Shooting Star also shot down the first MiG-15 lost during the campaign in what is believed to have been the world's first ever jet-versus-jet engagement. Read in this volume how the 8th and 49th Fighter Bomber Wings in Korea, F-80Cs completed an amazing 98,515, combat sorties, shot down 37 aircraft (including six MiG-15s), dropped 33,266 US tons of bombs and fired off 80,935 air-to-ground rockets. Aside from the fighter-bomber F-80C photo-recce RF-80A/Cs and 'hack' two-seat T-33s are also featured. Softcover, 8-in. x 9-in., 128 pages, Text (with Color photos) Cover price $19.95.

Volume 6 - 1st printing. "F-86 Sabres of the 4th Fighter Interceptor Wing!" Written by Warren Thompson. The 4th Fighter Interceptor Wing (FIW) was sent to Korea in December 1950 expressly to deal with the threat posed by the all-new MiG-15 fighter that had made its combat debut the previous month. It remained the sole Sabre wing in-theatre for a full year, its pilots tangling with Russian-flown MiGs up over the Yalu River on a near-daily basis. Through sheer skill and superior machinery, the 14th FIW prevailed and the skies over North Korea remained in UN control. This book includes numerous photos of aces and their aircrafts, as well as extensive first-hand accounts. Softcover, 8-in. x 9-in., 128 pages, Text (with Color photos) Cover price $19.95.