Norton, Bill Air-to-Air Missiles. Development and Combat Across 80 Years. Volume 2: First Generation and Early Experiences, 1944-1967

A volume from the series Technology @ War. This is the second of six volumes detailing the 80-year history of air-to-air missiles (AAM) as weapons for combat aircraft. It is the only comprehensive book on the subject. The first volume contains a technical description of AAMs, describes their development and use, the tactics for their deployment, and an assessment of why so many AAM shots miss their target. This content forms the basis for understanding the following volumes, which are also self-contained. Volume 2 describes the development and use of AAMs during the Second World War and in the early post-war period by all countries involved. Each new missile type and model from this period is described with the reasons for the programme, details of its development including flight tests, a general description, advantages and disadvantages, production and use (where applicable), and experience in service. A table with characteristics, technical diagrams and photos of the weapons and their installation in combat aircraft is provided. Each missile is also illustrated with a scale profile drawing. The combat results of these earliest missiles are then presented with background information on the conflict, the aircraft used in combat with AAMs and tables showing kills. Contemporary photos of combat aircraft with AAMs are also included. All of this provides a picture of the technological development of AAMs and the combat experience gained with this first generation of missiles. It naturally leads to the next volume and the next generation of AAMs.