AV-8B Harrier II Units of Operation Enduring Freedom

Author: Lon Nordeen
Illustrator: Jim Laurier

This book is number 104 of the Combat Aircraft Series of books that are available from Osprey Publishing.

In the 1970s the USMC bought the AV-8A Harrier from the UK whose VTOL capabilities allowed it to serve as a tactical aircraft that could deploy with Marine forces on amphibious assault ships and provide air cover and close air support from large deck aircraft carriers. Third in a trilogy on US Marine Corps Harrier IIs in combat, it will be the first volume to cover the whole story of the AV-8B’s service employment during peacekeeping operations and then in Afghanistan. With profile artwork for all frontline AV-8B units detailing the unique colors and markings applied by each squadron, this volume presents the widest variety of first-hand accounts of AV-8B air operations and missions by pilots and ground forces involved in Operation Enduring Freedom published to date.

Contents

Development, deployment and training

Marine Air Ground Team

Harrier IIs in support of NATO Peacekeeping

Harrier IIs in support of relief and peacekeeping operations in Somalia, Rwanda, Liberia, Central African Republic, Zaire

Congo and Sierra Leone

Growth pains and Modernization of the AV-8B Harrier II

Operation Enduring Freedom 2001

Ongoing Close Air Support Operations in Afghanistan 2002-10

Appendices – listing of USMC squadrons and locations – listing of the major production types of Harrier IIs, which include four different types of aircraft, AV-8B day attack, TAV-8B trainers, AV-8B Night Attack and AV-8B Radar-equipped Harrier IIs. – listing of combat sorties per squadron for all operations – color plates commentary

The MSRP of this book is $22.95.