United States Marine Corps Aircraft Since 1913

Among the world's military air arms, United States Marine Corps Aviation occupies a unique tactical niche. As the air component of a combined-arms expeditionary force, it exists primarily to support Marine combat forces on the ground in their amphibious assault mission. From the "Banana Wars" of the 1920s to the present day "War on Terror," Marine aviation has undergone a lengthy fine-tuning process not only in terms of warfare doctrines and tactics, but also in the types of aircraft needed to accomplish the mission. This comprehensive survey provides the history, technical specifications, drawings, and photographs of every type of fixed and rotary-wing aircraft used by Marine Air from its origins prior to World War I up to current operations.

Among the world’s military air arms, United States Marine Corps Aviation occupies a unique tactical niche. As the air component of a combined-arms expeditionary force, it exists primarily to support Marine combat forces on the ground in their amphibious assault mission. From the “Banana Wars” of the 1920s to the present day “War on Terror,” Marine aviation has undergone a lengthy fine-tuning process not only in terms of warfare doctrines and tactics, but also in the types of aircraft needed to accomplish the mission. This comprehensive survey provides the history, technical specifications, drawings, and photographs of every type of fixed and rotary-wing aircraft used by Marine Air from its origins prior to World War I up to current operations.

Marine Corps aviation is the story of machines and men (and now women). Just as individuals are introduced in historical narratives by full name, rank, and service, so too are the various aircraft flown by Marines. History and Museums Division writing guides dating back to World War II have required aircraft to be identified by manufacturer, model number, and name using contemporary nomenclature. Getting this right can be a research project in itself. This is made more accurate and easier by this occasional paper that updates two previous division publications-Marine Corps Aircraft, 1913-1960, published in 1961 and subsequently revised in 1967. The author has reviewed and expanded the previous efforts into a comprehensive edition that lists Marine aircraft from the Curtis E-1 through the Lockheed KC-130J Hercules. The 470 entries provide the most complete reference for historians and curators to date.

Over the past eight decades, developments in vertical lift aircraft--both helicopters and vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) planes--have given the American military unparalleled capabilities on the modern battlefield. The U.S. has led the world in vertical lift technologies with the help of some of the brightest minds in this field--Igor I. Sikorsky, Arthur M. Young, Frank N. Piasecki, Charles H. Kaman and Stanley Hiller, Jr., to name a few--and by having the industrial prowess to make their concepts reality. This book provides a concise historical survey, including technical specifications, drawings, and photographs of every type of helicopter and V/STOL aircraft developed for the U.S. military, from the earliest examples tested in 1941 and 1942, up to the newest prototypes.

This book covers the relatively little-documented period in US Navy and Marine Corps aviation 'between the wars' from 1919-1941', which is widely regarded as the 'Golden Era', when US Navy and Marine Corps aircraft carried some of the most striking schemes and markings ever seen. Over 550 different aircraft model designations appeared during this period, many numbering only a handful of aircraft, but of those which went in to full scale production, many were significant aircraft which contributed to the development of naval aviation worldwide. With scores of full color profile and 4-view illustrations, and some well selected representative contemporary photos, the book covers aircraft development, color schemes and markings, in a chronological format, presenting each aircraft type from its first entry into service until obsolescence, with a cutoff date of 7 December 1941 - the date that the United States of America entered World War Two - allowing the reader to appreciate the gradual evolution of the many color schemes and markings, both service and unit applied.

Celebrating 75 years of US Marine Corps aviation, the author has photographed their inventory of aircraft - from the F-18 fighter, 'Whiskey' Cobra helicopter and the A-4 Skyhawk to the AV-8B Harrier, A-6 Intruder and the CH-53E helicopter, capable of lifting an armoured vehicle weighing over 25,000 pounds.