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May 2001
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Who is watching you ? | Book review : Spy flights of the cold war | News Items
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| What a nice idea it would be to order this book using the search form located at the bottom of this page! |
I borrowed this book from the local library, read it and promptly went out and purchased a personal copy.
Two hundred and forty four pages of absolute outstanding detail take the reader from the earliest introduction of the subject, in 1783 to later events in 1995.
The author, Paul Lashmar, has researched the subject matter with those who actually flew secret missions in the Cold War.
A selection of photographs show the various aircraft, personnel and aerial photographs along with some maps are useful to the reader.
The specific missions of the RAF and USAF are recounted and, surprisingly, the Soviet response to these most secretive missions. The Russian attempt to detect the flights and to harass and sometimes destroy the aircraft that were part of the necessary incursion is also covered in more than adequate detail.
ELINT is covered and there are explanations about the methods used and of the aircraft used as the mobile ELINT platforms. The ability to be able to distinguish between height or tracking radar is explained along with a necessary explanation of the use of the SHF bands used.
«Traffic on the frequency bands to be searched during operational missions varied considerably. Therefore inexperienced personnel were initially allocated to the reasonably quiet L-Band from which they progressed to C-Band, X-Band and ultimately the busy S-Band. The twelve special operators in the pre-Breton days comprised one each on (VHF radar and voice) L- and C-Bands; two each for the S- and X0- Bands; two supervisors and three linguists working fighter control frequencies on the A-Band, there being no Soviet UHF voice transmission until the 1960's.
By the mid-1950's the Russians had stopped copying Western equipment and become adept at designing ever more sophisticated radar and radio. They also became much cleverer at disguising and coding signals. The West tried to keep one step ahead with flights constantly monitoring the communist capabilities. In Europe the USAF and RAF monitored Soviet air defences.»
Nineteen chapters describe the Spy Flights, Operations and so on. A table of abbreviations used and a Glossary provide the non-technical reader with explanations of the terms used.
Whilst a percentage of the book appears to be dedicated to the 'America' curtain, a very interesting chapter, 'The U2 - British Story' related the flying of U2 aircraft by RAF crew.
There is also mention of the Canberra and of some of the missions that it flew.
The author details a very disturbing plan, by the USAF, to use spy flights in an attempt to start World War 3, with the intention of nuclear intervention, to remove the Soviet Union and China as nations.
The Soviets have contributed to this book and detail the tension caused by the flights of the spy planes, documenting the downing of Western aircraft.
The secrecy that has surrounded this subject matter has been by-passed to produce an excellent book that should grace the bookshelves of anyone even remotely interested in all matters espionage.
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Who is watching you ? | Book review : Spy flights of the cold war | News Items
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