Tactical Reconnaissance In The Cold War

The little-known stories of the United States Air Force pilots who flew alone and unarmed into enemy territory in a world under threat of nuclear war. Tactical Reconnaissance in the Cold War describes how the United States Air Force tactical reconnaissance units operated from the end of World War II until the 1970s. This was an immensely active period that also included major conflicts in Korea and Vietnam. It was also a period of rapid technological development in aircraft and photographic techniques. This highly-illustrated book includes chapters on: the post-war period in Europe and the East; the Korean Conflict and the role of the 67th TRW from 1950 to 1954; the role of the highly secret RF-86 missions over Red China and the Soviet Far East in the early to mid ’50s; the RB-57A missions out of Bitburg and Yokota flying clandestinely over the Soviet Union and the RF-100A missions that were flown over the Soviet Union from Turkey, Rhine-Main and Yokota; United States Air Forces in Europe; the Cuban Missile Crisis and the role of the RF-101 Voodoos and RB-66s.

A comprehensive history of tactical reconnaissance aircraft produced and operated during the Cold War in support of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

This book describes how the United States Air Force tactical reconnaissance units operated from the end of World War II until the 1970s. This was an immensely active period that also included major conflicts in Korea and Vietnam. It was also a period of rapid technological development in aircraft and photographic techniques. The book includes the following: Introduction: The post war period in Europe and the East. The Korean Conflict and the role of the 67th TRW from 1950 to 1954. The role of the highly secret RF-86 missions over Red China and the Soviet Far East in the early to mid '50s. Also the RB-57A missions out of Bitburg and Yokota flying clandestinely over the Soviet Union and the RF-100A missions that were flown over the Soviet Union from Turkey, Rhine Maine and Yokota. United States Air Forces in Europe. The Cuban Missile Crisis and the role of the RF-101 Voodoos and RB-66s. Highly Illustrated with 164 colour & 221 Mono photos, 13 colour profiles and 9 colour insignia. Profiles designed by Robbie Robson.

The underlying theme of this book is now it can be told. It tells the inside story of aerial reconnaisance and electronic intelligence, from the post-war years through to the present day, complete with political skulduggery, and revelations such as the USSR's actual lack of military capability.

The book sets forth the role and place of reconnaissance in modern combat; its division into constituent parts; the demands made of it; the goal, missions, and objectives of reconnaissance; and the components of reconnaissance, the men and equipment, and the methods of reconnaissance. The fundamentals of organizing and conducting reconnaissance in the main types of combat are explained. The problems of assembling and processing intelligence information are considered. Reconnaissance is a highly important form of support. It is required to furnish the command element and staff at all levels with the information about the enemy, the terrain, and the area of impending actions that is needed for successfully preparing and conducting combat actions. At the present stage, the Soviet Army and Navy have modern, highly effective reconnaissance equipment with which it is possible to locate enemy objectives (targets) quickly, to identify them correctly, and to determine their location (coordinates) with great accuracy.

Few aviation subjects have been shrouded in more secrecy or been more controversial than Cold War aerial reconnaissance. Former reconnaissance pilot Robert S. Hopkins, III, offers new insights into strategic intelligence flights during the early years of the cold war. Primarily undertaken by RB-50s and RB-47s of the Strategic Air Command and by CIA U-2s, other Western nations such as Britain, Sweden, and Taiwan were equally committed to gathering intelligence about the Soviet Union and its allies, and conducted their own peripheral and overflight missions. Hopkins challenges longstanding beliefs that the flights served to prevent war, curtailed needless defense spending, and were undertaken by rogue generals bent on starting World War III. For the first time he shows the Soviet perspective on the flights, and makes a compelling case that reconnaissance flights did not have a sustained adverse effect on Soviet relations with the West. Using newly-declassified materials, interviews with crews and policy makers, and his own experience flying strategic reconnaissance missions, Hopkins links the daily operations of courageous fliers with decisions by presidents and prime ministers that decided the outcome of the Cold War.