Book Review: African MiGs, Madagascar – Zimbabwe

The following book review is written by a guest reviewer.

Reviewed by Sean YJ Chua

This is book is an excellent complement to the Volume 1 on MIGs and Sukhois in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The countries covered in this book include:
1. Madagascar
2. Mali
3. Mozambique
4. Namibia
5. Nigeria
6. Somalia
7. Sudan
8. Tanzania
9. Uganda
10. Zambia
11. Zimbabwe

The book begins with an addenda/errata to the Volume 1 with updates and corrections to every chapter and accompanied with photographs, most are unseen.

Each of the above country is covered in each chapter started with an overview of the geo political history and the history of its air force operations and the type of aircraft used. The history and force structure of each country was covered as well with a graphical map showing the location of the bases.

Effort was also put in the detailing of each know serial and type of MIG/SU operated and their current status. This was supplemented by coloured graphics of the camouflage and markings side views of the aircraft with some chapters going to great lengths to illustrate the different eras of the markings and camo employed.

Also operational histories of the MIGs/SU are detailed if they have seen combat operations . Attrition remarks are included as well.

Although the Chinese copies of Shenyang/Chengdu J-5/6/7 are not MIGs, they are also given the same treatment as the MIGs/SUs. The number of Chinese built MIGs are too significant to be ignored if you are doing a book on African MIGs.

Finally the book ends with an up to date ( as of 2011) Order of Battle of all the aircraft operated and the inventory numbers.

Again this is another excellent book to add to my esoteric /rare subjects in my collection. The printing and graphics/photos are a treasure trove to those who are used to the images on the internet. So start collecting all the Harpia books as they provide many hours of reading pleasure!