Gold Stars Over The Red River: The Fighter Regiments And The Aces Of The Vietnam People's Air Force

American aircraft began attacking targets north of the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone on 5 August 1964. The Democratic Republic of Vietnam was defended by a system that evolved in complexity throughout the struggle to become a sophisticated, and effective, fighting force. Elements of the defense system were the Fighter Regiments of the Vietnam People's Air Force. Vietnamese pilots flying MiG aircraft, the 17, the 19 and, with the greatest success, the 21 were able to claim the destruction of numerous aircraft of the American air forces. Such success was achieved at a cost, however, and many aircraft and pilots were lost, principally, to attackers flying versions of the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. Nonetheless, the Vietnamese Fighter Regiments remained a menace to those attempting to bomb targets in the Red River delta throughout the struggle known to those under the falling bombs as The American War.

Gold Stars Over The Red River describes in detail the formation, equipping and training of, and the missions flown by, the four Fighter Regiments of the Vietnam People's Air Force. In addition to a history of the units, the book includes biographies of the pilots who claimed at least five victories as well as details of those claims with reference to corresponding losses by the American air forces. Included as well is information about Group Z, made up of volunteers from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, an appendix that provides data about pilots who made at least one victory claim and some 50 photographs, rarely seen, of aircraft and pilots. Gold Stars Over The Red River is a tremendous source of information about an air force deserving attention and courageous airmen little known.

Author: Kirk R. Lowry

Publisher: The Gioi Publishers

Released Date: 2020

ISBN: 9786047753215