The history of tactical units of the USAF stationed in Britain during the Cold War is a complex one. This volume does the subject justice, covering both based units and those temporarily deployed. It begins with the arrival of the 47th Bombardment Wing at Sculthorpe with the B-45 and the 20th Fighter Bomber Wing (later Tactical Fighter Wing) at Wethersfield, first with the straight-wing F-84G and later the F-100D. The text contains chapters on each of the main flying units, whose story is then told chronologically, ending in 1992 when the Cold War was considered to have ended. Coverage is broad, and it's good to see that the all-important nuclear alert, the 'special weapons' carried and the delivery methods employed are discussed in some detail. The author's style is at all times detailed and readable, and a few amusing stories are included. On 1 October 1956, the Bolshoi Ballet was coming to perform in the UK in Aeroflot Tu-104 airliners, a type long suspected of having an unannounced secondary reconnaissance role and with a habit of deviating from assigned airways to overfly military installations of interest. As a result, the 92nd FBS at Manston was hurriedly advised to cover up the special stores carried on its F-84s, at least until the Tu- 104s had passed overhead.
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