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American Combat Planes of the 20th Century is an incredible reference for anyone who is interested in any American Combat Plane History. There are 758 pages and 1700 b/w photos in this substantial labor of love by Ray Wagner, who has been passionately researching and writing about aircraft for over 50 years. Whether you are already familiar with his past works, or just discovering this accomplished author for the first time... This is the book that you've been waiting for!

If you'd like to see the book's Table of Contents ... Click here. You can also browse the entire Index Section to get an idea of the extensive amount of information that is covered within this book.

Search our site for other combat planes. A- 1 Eaton A- 4 Skyhawk A- 6 & A- 7 Air Weapons AV- 8 to A- 10 A- 20 Havoc A- 22 Martin Maryland A- 23 Martin Baltimore A- 24 Douglas A- 26 Douglas Invader Attack Planes B- 2A, F-111, F-117 Stealth B- 17 Flying Fortress B- 24 Liberator B- 25 North American B- 26 Marauder B- 29 Superfortress B- 32 Dominator B- 35 Flying Wing B- 36 B- 47 Stratojet B- 50 Boeing B- 52 Stratofortress B- 57 Canberra B- 58 Hustler Biplanes Biplanes, Army Pursuits Bombers, B- 70 to Stealth Bombers, First Big Curtiss Falcon CO- 1 DH- 4 De Havilland F3D- Douglas Skyknight F3H- McDonnell Demon F4D- 1 Skyray F4F Grumman Wildcats F- 4U Corsair F6F Grumman F7F Grumman F7U Vought F9F G. Cougar F9F G. Panther F- 16 Fighting Falcon F- 84 F- 86 Sabre F- 89 to F-94 F- 100 to F-108 First Fighters Flying Boats GAX Iraq to Afghanistan Martin Bombers Missile Era Fighters Navy Fighers Navy Flying Boats O- 2 Douglas P- 35 Seversky P- 36 to 42 Curtiss P- 38 Lightning P- 39 Airacobra P- 40 Line P- 47 Thunderbolt P- 51 Mustang Fighter P- 61 Black Widow P- 63 Kingcobra P- 79 to P-81 P- 82 Twin Mustang SB2C Helldiver TBF-TBM Avenger Thomas-Morse Torpedo Planes V- 11 Vultee XB -28 XP -48 / 77

Stealth • B-2A • F-111 • F-117

Page 1 LOCKHEED MARTIN F-117A

Doubts about the B-1Bs ability to penetrate well-defended enemy targets led the Air Force to explore the possibility of reducing a night bomber’s chances of being detected by radar. Aircraft like the B-1 and the SR-71 had reduced their front cross section enough to make them less reflective to hostile radar, and the advantage of building a nearly invisible night bomber was attractive.

It is not surprising that Kelly Johnson’s Skunk Works was selected for this project, beginning with a contract in April 1976 to develop a test vehicle called Have Blue with Very Low Observable (VLO) characteristics. That small-scale, proof-of-concept aircraft began test flights at the secret Groom Lake base on December 1, 1977. A second Have Blue prototype in 1978 refined the VLO concept, which replaced aircraft curves with less-reflective straight facets, and careful engine intake screening.

Very strict security protected the program as it advanced to a bomber design. As Oxcart had disguised the A-12, the world’s fastest airplane, F-117 was the misleading designation of the secret night bomber. Our first fighters, had been called pursuits, which chased and shot down enemy aircraft, but the F-117 could not catch or shoot anything.

The radical F-117 achieved VLO traits by a faceted delta shape, radar absorbent composite materials, and reduced infrared exhaust emissions. This shape did limit performance, and no radar was allowed, for any emissions must be prevented. Two General Electric F-404 engines like those of the F/A-18, but without afterburners, powered the F-117A, and a unique V-tail was used. No external stations are allowed. F-117A refueling from KC-10A

One man flew the Stealth plane, using a built-in computerized inertial navigation and autopilot flight control system. When a target is acquired by infrared detection from a 25,000-foot altitude, a laser target designator releases a 2,000-pound GBU-10 Paveway II or GBU-27 Paveway III bomb.

Piloted by Harold Farley, Jr., the first F-117A flew at Groom Lake on June 18, 1981. Fifty-nine were delivered from January 15, 1982, to July 12, 1990. They achieved operational capability in October 1983 with the 4450th Tactical Group, which became the 37th TFW at the Tonopah Test Range in October 1989.

Armament usually comprised two GBU-27 or GBU-10 bombs in twin bays, and an inflight refueling receptacle allowed movement to any part of the world. Not until November 10, 1988, was the F-117 revealed to the public. Two 37th TFW Nighthawks targeted a Rio Hato military base on December 20, 1989, during the operation against Panama’s dictator. GENERAL DYNAMICS F-111F PAVE TACK (1990)

Air Force Bombers in Desert Storm
Desert Storm began on January 17, 1991, when the first ten 415th TFS F-117As based in Saudi Arabia struck Baghdad at 12.22 AM. Since that capital city was so heavily defended, only F-117As and Tomahawk cruise missiles were used against Baghdad itself. During the Gulf War, 42 F-117As flew 1,271 sorties and dropped 2,040 tons of guided bombs, with 79% believed to have hit their targets. Not one F-117A was lost or seriously damaged.

That most modern Air Force bomber was joined by the oldest when seven 2nd BW B-52Gs flew from Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, to launch 35 AGM-86Bs and returned on January 17, after a 35-hour, 14,000-mile flight, the longest combat mission in history. During the Gulf War, 1,624 missions by 86 B-52s were flown with 25,700 tons of iron bombs from Fairford, England; Moron, Spain; and the island of Diego Garcia, as well as SAC bases in the U.S. Twenty-seven 800-pound M117 bombs were inside each B-52G bay, and 18 more could be added on the external beams.

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