AV-8B Harrier II Units of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm
By Chris Banyai-Riepl
Combat Aircraft 90
Author: Lon Nordeen
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-84908-444-4
Binding: Softcover
Pages: 96
The invasion by Iraq of Kuwait in 1990 set up a situation where a coalition of nations stood against Iraq. This resulted in a huge range of aircraft types operating in the skies over Southwest Asia, and the main mount for the US Marine Corps was the AV-8B Harrier II. This new title from Osprey examines the operations of the Harrier II during Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
The book begins with some background information. Marine Corps aviation is a bit different from other branches of service and requires a different sort of aircraft. The Harrier was a perfect match for their mission requirements, being both an effective aircraft and capable from operating from all sorts of forward operating bases. Knowing this background helps in following the actual operational history, which is what follows that simple introduction.
The remaining chapters are broken down by unit. There were five squadrons used during Desert Shield and Desert Storm: VMA-311 & MAG-13 (Forward), VMA-542, VMA-331, VMA-513, and VMA-231. VMA-311 and MAG-13 is the first chapter, followed by VMA-542. Both of these units were the first Harrier units deployed, operating out of Bahrain. The other two units, VMA-331 and VMA-513, operated off of ships, mainly the USS Nassau. This provided a broader coverage by the Marine Corps. VMA-542 deployed later, replacing one of the earlier units. The text is excellent, providing a good balance between historical writing and personal anecdotes.
Like other Osprey titles, the text is only part of the book. Throughout the pages are plenty of photographs, most of which are in color. These show the aircraft and the weaponry carried to good effect. Additionally, the center color profile section further details the colors and markings of the Harriers from the various units. Overall, this book provides a great overview of USMC Harrier operations during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. My thanks to Osprey Publishing for the review copy.