TAC : A Pictorial History of the USAF Tactical Air Forces, 1970 - 1977

This fine book, which contains both black and white photographs and colour illustrations, tells the story about the U.S.A.F. T.A.C. and its aircraft between 1970 and 1977.

The sub - title on the cover reads : ’ A Pictorial History of the U.S.A.F. Tactical Air Forces 1970 - 1977 ’. It could just as well read : ’ A Pictorial Survey of the aircraft of U.S.A.F. Tactical Air Forces 1970 - 1977 ’ or ’ T.A.C.'s transition from yesterday to tomorrow ’. Both would be true. In fact, it was for the latter reason that the author chose to portray T.A.C. in the 70's. At the beginning of this decade, only three new aircraft types had been added to T.A.C.'s inventory in the previous ten years ( A - 7D, F - 111 and OV - 10 ). Of the dozens of types that were operated by T.A.C., many dated back as far as World War II.
The Air War in Vietnam had thrust tactical air into the future, with new tactics and technology, and it was obvious that new aircraft were needed to accomodate the resultant changes. Some of the ’ new ’ aircraft are merely modifications of existing types. Others are all new, and have performance margins built into them that will more than likely assure their continued role in T.A.C. to the end of this century. They are all here, and they provide a panoramic view of T.A.C.'s diversity and flexibility, past, present and future.

Lou Drendel ( 1937 ) was born in Aurora, Illinois ( United States of America ). He traces his interest in aviation to a childhood filled with model airplanes. Lou Drendel's aviation activities include the winning of senior parachutist wings during a tour of duty with the 82nd Airborne Division, a brief fling at skydiving and gaining his commercial pilot's license. His main interest is the depiction of aircraft and airmen in action in his paintings. Lou Drendel's paintings have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Time - Life Publications, Berkely Books, The Journal of the American Aviation Historical Society, EAA Warbirds Magazine and in the 60+ books he has authored on military aviation for Squadron / Signal Publications and for ARCO Publishers. He has also authored and published The Lima Lima Flight Team : The Life and Times of the World’s First Civilian six - Ship Formation Aerobatic Team, and three new Kindle books : B - 25 Mitchell Illustrated, Aviation Art of Lou Drendel II and P - 47 Thunderbolt Illustrated.
( sources : The AIR WAR in VIETNAM, The AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AVIATION ARTISTS )