This is the comprehensive story of some of the most radical attack aircraft ever designed to operate from an aircraft carrier. These incredible projects were developed in 1948 to equip the USS United States, an immense 65,000-ton supercarrier that was to have been the core of the Navy's nascent strategic nuclear bombardment capability. Legendary aerospace companies such as Convair, Curtiss-Wright, Douglas, Fairchild, Lockheed, Martin, North American, Northrop, and Republic would each submit proposals to the competitions. Varying widely in appearance, these studies ranged from Douglas's relatively small and modern Model 593 to their unconventional Model 1186 series, which was inspired by the X-3 Stiletto and featured a small parasite aircraft mounted atop a gigantic missile. Recently declassified, details of these fascinating projects are presented here for the first time.

The Boeing XF8B-1 "Five-in-One" fighter was the last piston engine fighter built by Boeing and very nearly the last fighter built by the company until its merger with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Conceived in 1943, the XF8B-1 was unusual for a naval fighter in having an internal bomb bay, tremendous range, and counter-rotating propellers, the latter necessitated by its huge Pratt & Whitney R-4360 "Wasp Major" engine, a 28-cylinder air-cooled radial that produced a staggering 3,500 hp. An exhaustive account based on extensive research at the National Archives and Boeing Historical Archive, this book contains an authoritative text along with hundreds of rare photos, general arrangement drawings, color profiles, artist's impressions, and extensive extracts from the pilot's and maintenance manuals.