Mig-17 "Fresco": Opposing Rolling Thunder 1965-68

By Istvan Toperczer

An illustrated account of the against-the-odds successes of the MiG-17 "Fresco" in action against US combat aircraft during Operation Rolling Thunder.

Following their elite training in the USSR and China, the Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF) pilots chosen to fly the MiG-17 achieved some stunning triumphs against the best US fighters committed to action over North Vietnam. The low-speed/high-g maneuvering attacks employed by the communist pilots proved to be highly effective, with the MiG-17's heavy-caliber cannon inflicting a rising toll on American aircraft including the F-8 Crusader, F-4 Phantom II, and F-105 Thunderchief.

Drawing on archival photographs and first-hand accounts from the pilots involved, this engaging new study reveals how a handful of MiG-17 regiments achieved 40 aerial victories over considerably more advanced US combat aircraft types following the commencement of Operation Rolling Thunder in March 1965. Leading VPAF authority Istv n Toperczer's insightful research and tactical analyses shed fresh light on the important role played by the "Fresco" in the defense of North Vietnam, and are complemented by action-packed ribbon diagrams, as well as battlescene artwork and a detailed cutaway armament view.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1472874242
• ISBN13: 9781472874245
• Release Date: June 2026
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (UK)
• Length: 80 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 7.2" x 9.8"