New Review: Air to Air Missiles, Development and Combat Across 80 Years, Volume 2: First Generation and Early Experience, 1944-1959

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This is the second in a six-volume history of air-to-air missiles (AAM). In the first volume (see my review on this website), the author Bill Norton laid down the basic terminology and operating concepts used in designing and employing these weapons. In this second volume, He begins a generational examination of the weapons by their countries of origin. The book is divided into three sections. In the first, the efforts of Germany, Great Britain, and the United States during the latter part of WWII are covered. Although no guided AAM was fielded before the war ended, their progress in propulsion and guidance systems laid the groundwork for what would happen in the post war period. Germany certainly got close with their X-4 missile, guided by wire controls that trailed the missile after launch.

View the full review