Download or read book RAF Hunters in Germany written by Günther Kipp and published by . This book was released on 2003-07-01 with total page 71 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Thinking the Unthinkable written by Nigel Walpole and published by . This book was released on 2012-10 with total page 250 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'Thinking the Unthinkable' is the result of ten years of sporadic research, involving many visits to the former German Democratic Republic by a small Anglo/German team of military specialists. Their purpose was to explore the lives of RAF and East German fighter and fighter-bomber pilots, in the air and on the ground, at work and play, during the Cold War in North Germany. The book is based largely on personal testimony from these pilots, coupled with facts drawn from official archives and comment from other historical sources. Where possible, political considerations have been avoided and no outright criticism has been intended, readers being left to draw their own conclusions on the thinking, strategies, equipment and tactics discussed. Far from being an intellectual polemic on the Cold War, the text and photographs merely record a slice of history as seen through the eyes of a select few who took up arms in the defence of their respective homelands - and faced each other daily across the Iron Curtain. Nigel Walpole passed out from the Royal Air Force College Cranwell in 1954, and joined No.26 (Day Fighter) Squadron, flying Hunter F.4s on the front line in Germany at RAF Oldenburg. In 1957 he converted to the Swift FR.5, on No.79 (Fighter Reconnaissance) Squadron, and in 1959 began an exchange posting with the USAF at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, flying RF-101 Voodoos in the tactical reconnaissance role. On return to the UK in 1961, he was posted to the Central Fighter Establishment, where he was promoted to squadron leader and given command of No.234 Squadron, equipped with Hunter F.6 and Hunter DFGA 9 aircraft. He returned to Germany in 1965, to command No.2 Squadron, flying Hunter FR.10s committed to armed reconnaissance. This was followed by two years on the Fighter Command Tactical Evaluation team, before promotion to wing commander and an appointment to 16 Parachute Brigade, as the Brigade Air Support Officer (BASO) - this giving him a good perspective of the British Army's use of air power. Staff training at the National Defence College followed a short spell in command of No.12 Squadron, operating overland and maritime strike/attack Buccaneers, followed by a staff appointment at the MOD in London, before he returned to the front line in Germany as Officer Commanding Strike Wing, flying Jaguar GR.1s at RAF Bruggen. Promoted to group captain, he ended his military career in 1988 with four years as Assistant Chief of Staff (Offensive) in the NATO HQ at Rheindahlen, Germany. He then joined British Aerospace as its air weapons advisor, before retiring to take a university degree, and thereafter to write a series of books and articles on the Cold War - as seen from the flight line. He now lives with his Dutch-born wife in Suffolk, UK.

Download or read book Twenty Days in the Reich written by Flying Officer Squire 'Tim' Scott and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2006-05-18 with total page 202 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: On 15 March 1945 three crew members of a Bomber Command Lancaster baled from their crippled aircraft over the eastern Rhur. The author of this book was the navigator and one of those men. All three found themselves in quiet countryside but were soon captured and imprisoned in a village jail. After a short time they were moved and now unfolds the tale of how two German guards led them over 120 miles to their eventual PoW destination. Since they were close to the advancing Allied forces the transportation system was in chaos and they traveled sometimes by one of the few remaining trains or by hitchhiking. The nights were bitterly cold and precious little heating was available. The two guards were sympathetic and the small party was amazed by the civility of the local people, since the RAF was rife with tales of horrific violence when downed RAF crew fell into civilian hands, one of the results of the blanket bombing offence that was then underway. At one stage their guards fell asleep and escape was considered, but eventually rejected and they were delivered into a transfer PoW camp. Before they were rescued by Allied forces, 22 days after baling out, the three had only spent 15 days as prisoners and only 36 hours behind barbed wire.

Download or read book RAF East German Fast Jet Pilots in the Cold War written by Nigel Walpole and published by Air World. This book was released on 2020-11-23 with total page 512 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “You’ll learn what these pilots went through knowing that their actions or reactions could trigger a global nuclear war.” —Historic Aviation RAF and East German Fast-Jet Pilots in the Cold War is the result of ten years of research, involving many visits to the former German Democratic Republic by a small Anglo/German team of military specialists. Their purpose was to explore the lives of RAF and East German fighter and ?ghter-bomber pilots, in the air and on the ground, at work and play, during the Cold War in North Germany. The book is based largely on personal testimony from these pilots, coupled with facts drawn from official archives and comment from other historical sources. Where possible, political considerations have been avoided and no outright criticism has been intended, readers being left to draw their own conclusions on the thinking, strategies, equipment and tactics discussed. Far from being an intellectual polemic on the Cold War, the text and photographs merely record a slice of history as seen through the eyes of a select few who took up arms in the defense of their respective homelands—and faced each other daily across the Iron Curtain. In an insightful conclusion, Nigel Walpole reassess the threat that both sides believed was genuine during those tense decades of the Cold War and examines the possible course and nature of a conflict which neither NATO nor the Warsaw Pact wanted but both actively planned for. “The writer has avoided politics where possible, and in doing so reassesses the threat and uncertainty—and ultimately the fears—both air forces faced. It’s truly fascinatingl.” —Flypast

Download or read book Royal Air Force Germany Since 1945 written by Bill Taylor and published by Midland Publishing. This book was released on 2003 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This detailed survey takes the lid off RAF operations in Germany from establishment of the British Air Forces of Occupation in July 1945 to the tense days of the Berlin Airlift and the establishment of NATO and its tripwire strategy which placed Germany firmly in the front line.

Download or read book Deep Sea Hunters written by Martin W. Bowman and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2014-09-11 with total page 426 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With vivid firsthand accounts, this WWII history examines the RAF Coastal Command’s operations at sea against U-boats and the German Navy. In Deep Sea Hunters, historian Martin Bowman delves into the Royal Air Force Coastal Command’s dynamic role in countering German naval power during the Second World War. Beginning with the disastrous Norwegian Campaign, he covers the numerous attacks on the bustling German submarine base at Lorient, the attack on Brest, as well as many other pivotal and dramatic events of the conflict at sea. The hunt or U-boats is relayed in full and gripping detail, with first-hand accounts from U-boat attackers—as well as German submariners—punctuating Bowman’s dramatic prose. This two-sided history is sure to appeal to all enthusiasts interested in gaining a balanced insight into Second World War naval history.

Download or read book Civil Airworthiness Certification written by Miguel Vasconcelos and published by Stickshaker Pubs. This book was released on 2013-09-19 with total page 2505 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This publication provides safety information and guidance to those involved in the certification, operation, and maintenance of high-performance former military aircraft to help assess and mitigate safety hazards and risk factors for the aircraft within the context provided by Title 49 United States Code (49 U.S.C.) and Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), and associated FAA policies. Specific models include: A-37 Dragonfly, A-4 Skyhawk, F-86 Sabre, F-100 Super Sabre, F-104 Starfighter, OV-1 Mohawk, T-2 Buckeye, T-33 Shooting Star, T-38 Talon, Alpha Jet, BAC 167 Strikemaster, Hawker Hunter, L-39 Albatros, MB-326, MB-339, ME-262, MiG-17 Fresco, MiG-21 Fishbed, MiG-23 Flogger, MiG-29 Fulcrum, S-211. DISTRIBUTION: Unclassified; Publicly Available; Unlimited. COPYRIGHT: Graphic sources: Contains materials copyrighted by other individuals. Copyrighted materials are used with permission. Permission granted for this document only. Where applicable, the proper license(s) (i.e., GFD) or use requirements (i.e., citation only) are applied.

Download or read book The Ruhr 1943 written by Richard Worrall and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2021-10-28 with total page 97 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This illustrated study explores, in detail, the RAF's first concentrated air campaign of World War II against one of the hardest and most important targets in Germany – the industrial heartland of the Ruhr that kept Hitler's war machine running. Between March and July 1943, RAF Bomber Command undertook its first concentrated bombing campaign, the Battle of the Ruhr, whose aim was nothing less than the complete destruction of the industry that powered the German war machine. Often overshadowed by the famous 'Dambusters' single-raid attack on the Ruhr dams, the Battle of the Ruhr proved much larger and much more complex. The mighty, industrial Ruhr region contained not only some of the most famous and important arms makers, such as the gunmakers Krupp of Essen, but also many other industries that the German war economy relied on, from steelmakers to synthetic oil plants. Being such a valuable target, the Ruhr was one of the most heavily defended regions in Europe. This book examines how the brutal Ruhr campaign was conceived and fought, and how Bomber Command's relentless pursuit of its objective drew it into raids on targets well beyond the Ruhr, from the nearby city of Cologne to the Skoda works in Czechoslovakia. Drawing on a wide-range of primary and secondary sources, this is the story of the first titanic struggle in the skies over Germany between RAF Bomber Command and the Luftwaffe.

Download or read book Hunter Story written by Martin W. Bowman and published by The History Press. This book was released on 2012-02-29 with total page 36 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: One of the world's greatest aircraft, for three decades pilots enthused about the Hunter and its smooth lines, Rolls-Royce Avon engine, outstanding handling characteristics and lively performance. Designed by Sir Sydney Camm, the genius behind the Hurricane, work on the Hunter commenced late in 1948, but the post-war economic situation in Britain delayed its first flight until 20 July 1951. In September 1953 Neville Duke piloted a Hunter to shatter the world speed record. This book traces the history of the Hunter across RAF and worldwide service, from design and development to the glory days and the unforgettable aerobatic displays with the Black Knights, Black Arrows and Blue Diamonds. A real pilot's aeroplane, the Hunter reigned supreme for fifty years, with the last example retired in July 2001.

Download or read book Seek and Strike written by Nigel Walpole and published by Air World. This book was released on 2020-05-30 with total page 376 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Seek and Strike – RAF Brüggen in War and Peace is an anecdotal history of the largest RAF station in Germany. Optimized for a new breed of aircraft, and to NATO requirements, this huge airfield was cut out of the Elmpt Forest, on the German border with Holland, and completed in one year to become operational in 1953. First occupied by a fighter wing equipped with Vampires, Sabres and Hunters, its ‘Seek and Strike’ motif took on real meaning when the station re-equipped with strike, attack and reconnaissance Canberras, followed by strike/attack Phantoms, Jaguars and finally Tornados. RAF Brüggen was at the forefront of the Cold War, during which innovation and determination brought it many accolades. It further distinguished itself in the Gulf War and continued to play its part in subsequent monitoring operations in that theater; it was also the only Tornado Wing to operate directly from its home base during the Kosovo campaign. This is the story of a station at war, of the men and women at the sharp end and in support. At work and play, it was they who made Brüggen what it was, excelling in all things and justifying a claim to have been RAF Germany’s ‘jewel in the crown’. With its closure in 2001, the RAF relinquished its last main operating base outside the UK. Brüggen was indeed ‘last and best’.

Download or read book The RAF in Cold War Germany written by Ian Smith Watson and published by Fonthill Media. This book was released on 2022-08-22 with total page 271 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In May 1945 with the war in Europe at an end, Britain had to play her part in the occupation of the defeated Germany. The near-bankrupt country was hard-pressed to maintain such a military presence on the continent and still manage our other out commitments across the Mediterranean, Middle and Far East. As the immediate post-war years came to pass, Britain and other western powers found themselves reviewing their relationship with the key victor in the east: the USSR. A defining moment came in 1948 when the Soviet Union attempted to starve the people of West Berlin to the point of being relinquished to their fate by the Western allies. Following a sterling and stubborn effort to keep the city supplied with the minimum materials and food the Soviet exercise ended in 1949. But the parameters were now set, the Iron Curtain had descended across the continent, and the RAF were to maintain a constant vigil with nuclear-armed aircraft on station ready to respond to Soviet aggression for the next four decades while politicians tried desperately to preserve the peace.

Download or read book V Weapons Hunt written by Roy M. Stanley and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2010-08-19 with total page 514 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The V-1 and much larger V-2 rockets added a terrifying extra dimension to the Second World War. Once launched there was little that could stop the V-1s and nothing to prevent the V-2s from reaching their targets. Both were indiscriminate and struck with little or no warning. Their destructive power was awesome but it was their psychological impact on the defenseless civil population that posed such a threat to morale.This remarkable book tells, through words and images, the story of the Allied discovery, understanding and campaign against the Vengeance weapons. Written by a trained intelligence analyst and aerial photo interpreter, V Weapons Hunt picks out the air photographs that found the breakthrough in this vital campaign. The reader sees the first sighting of a V-1 flying bomb at the Peenemunde research facility, weapon launch sites, production facilities as well as the damage caused by Allied raids.This is a scholarly and authoritative work which lifts the lid on how Allied intelligence provided the information to defeat this insidious threat before it caused not only massive destruction but the delay of the Normandy invasion.

Download or read book Congress and US Military Aid to Britain written by Helen Leigh-Phippard and published by Springer. This book was released on 2016-07-27 with total page 206 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book examines the Anglo-American relationship in the early postwar period through a case study of the American military assistance programme launched in 1949. It analyses the degree and changing nature of interdependence between the two states under this programme from 1949 to 1956. It focuses in particular on the tensions in US policy between Congress and the Administration, the differing conceptions of the Anglo-American relationship held by the two institutions and the problems this posed for Britain.

Download or read book Fifty Years of Flying Fun written by Rod Dean and published by Grub Street Publishing. This book was released on 2015-07-19 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fifty Years of Flying Fun covers, in a roughly chronological order, over fifty continuous years of flying. This ranges from joining the RAF in 1962, through his intriguing first operational tour on Hunters in Aden, the early days of the Jaguar in Germany and, finally in the RAF, an almost outrageous two years flying the Jaguar and Hunter with the Sultan of OmanÕs Air Force. His subsequent civil flying has been exclusively in the General Aviation and flying display fields as a flying instructor and well known display pilot, including being involved in many varied and interesting display-related episodes. With in excess of 7,000 flying hours on 59 different types Ð and only one aircraft (Spencer FlackÕs Mustang) with a working autopilot Ð Rod gives a clear, and largely humorous, insight into the operation of a cross section of piston and jet engine vintage aircraft and his undoubted fifty years of fun since the first solo on 19 March 1963. Fifty Years of Flying Fun is not just a book for the aviation enthusiast, but for anyone wanting to learn about any aspect of flying history through the memoir of a man who lived through it all.

Download or read book Social Unrest and American Military Bases in Turkey and Germany since 1945 written by Amy Austin Holmes and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2014-05-29 with total page 251 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book argues that that the relationship between US military presence in foreign countries and the non-US citizens under its security umbrella is inherently contradictory.

Download or read book Hunter Boys written by Richard Pike and published by Grub Street Publishers. This book was released on 2014-06-19 with total page 209 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Entertaining and informative tales of success, heroics, fear, relief and exhilaration in and around the Hunter cockpit” (Royal Air Force Historical Society Journal). From the author of Lightning Boys, this is a fascinating look at the experiences of those who flew the iconic Hawker Hunter. Fifteen aircrew relate their individual recollections of the highs and lows, the dramas and demands of this incredible aircraft, which came into service in July 1951 and changed the future of fighter development. Included are a chapter by Neville Duke, Hawker Aircraft’s chief test pilot, and other tales recounting the Aden emergency, the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war, and a race against the odds in Gibraltar. These true stories demonstrate the exceptional performance of this aircraft and illustrate its renowned lengthy service with the RAF and internationally—brought to life with original photographs plus paintings by acclaimed aviation artist Chris Stone.

Download or read book The Royal Air Force in the Cold War 1950 1970 written by Ian Proctor and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2015-01-30 with total page 193 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Soon after the Second world War, wartime allies became Cold War adversaries, and by 1950 the perceived threat of a Soviet strike on Western Europe or Britain dominated military planning. For the next forty years, the Royal Air Force was in the front-line of the Cold War. In Britain and Germany, light bomber crews exercised in preparation for a future conflict, while interceptor pilots stood by ready to counter incursions by Soviet aircraft. Between 1956 and 1969, the elite crews of the iconic V-Force of nuclear bombers trained to perform the ultimate mission, striking targets deep in the heart of Russia. Protecting British interests overseas, personnel at stations across the Middle East and Far East were regularly engaged in supporting operations during the many colonial conflicts which occurred throughout the 1950s and 1960s.??Undertaking these duties were new British-designed aircraft introduced to squadrons from the early-1950s. The names of these extraordinary aircraft, which included the Hunter, Lightning, Vulcan and Canberra, became synonymous with the Cold War.??In this book, Ian Proctor uses over 150 highly evocative colour images from a single remarkable Air Ministry collection to portray the RAF and its personnel between 1950 and 1970. He provides a selected insight into service life, the aircraft, recruitment and training, and the operations and exercises undertaken by the RAF during a twenty year period of the Cold War.