COLD WAR BOYS

Sub-titled 'Previously Unpublished Tales of Derring-do from Pilots and Crew of the Lightning, Phantom and Hunter, Tornado and Other Aircraft'. The Cold War would persist for over 40 years from March 1947 until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991. In addition to nuclear and conventional military friction between the Eastern and Western blocs, the struggle for dominance involved a remarkable range of activities including the space race, psychological efforts, espionage, even rivalry at sporting functions and technological events. This diversity is reflected in the 20 chapters of this book which opens with a vivid description from the author of survival procedures used by English Electric Lightning pilots in the event of nuclear war. Various contributors share their original experiences on a range of fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft across the world including tales from RAF Germany, the Falklands and the Far East. At least 13 different aircraft are covered and each story demonstrates some of the intriguing circumstances faced by aircrew and ground crew whose tenacity and professionalism had to cope with miscellaneous situations of danger, excitement, risk, pathos and humour. Author Richard Pike became a flight cadet at Cranwell in 1961 and over his 40 year career converted to the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom and he eventually became a civilian helicopter pilot. 192pp, eight pages of colour and black and white photos.