Javelin Boys: Air Defence from the Cold War to Confrontation

by Steve Bond

Overview

This Royal Air Force history examines a revolutionary Cold War era aircraft with firsthand accounts from veterans who flew them all over the world.

The Gloster Javelin, an all-weather interceptor aircraft, was the UK’s first line of air defense in the 1950s and 1960s, both at home and in Royal Air Force Germany. With an unorthodox aerodynamic design, the Javelin had major production issues early on—including a tendency for engines to self-destruct under certain conditions. But the revolutionary aircraft still receives much affection from its former crew. Some of their most thrilling, fascinating and colorful stories are collected here in terrific detail.

Starting from the first deliveries of Javelins in 1956 until the final withdrawal from RAF squadron use in 1968, Javelin Boys describes adventures all over the world—from Cyprus to Singapore during the Indonesian Confrontation and Zambia during the Rhodesian declaration of UDI. Alongside their anecdotes is a detailed history of this unusual aircraft, accompanied by photography never seen before in print.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781911621584
Publisher:	Grub Street
Publication date:	02/12/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208
File size:	13 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Dr Steve Bond is a life-long aviation professional and historian. He served in the Royal Air Force for twenty-two years as an aircraft propulsion technician, with tours on many different aircraft, and was part of the Eurofighter Typhoon project team in the MoD. A fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, he is also the author of many magazine articles and books including: Heroes All, Special Ops Liberators (with Richard Forder), Wimpy, Meteor Boys and Javelin Boys for Grub Street.

Table of Contents

Preface 6

Introduction and Acknowledgements 9

Chapter 1 'We Rise to Conquer' - 46 Squadron 18

Chapter 2 The javelin Force Grows 38

Chapter 3 Fighter Command - The Final Years 66

Chapter 4 The javelin Abroad - RAF Germany and Beyond 91

Chapter 5 Riggers, Sooties, Leckies, Plumbers and Fairies - The Ground Crew 124

Chapter 6 End of the Line - Singapore and Boscombe Down 151

Appendix 1 Operating Units 177

Appendix 2 Production List 182

Appendix 3 Accidents 184

Abbreviations 193

Select Bibliography 196

Index 197

Editorial Reviews

"Steve Bond's Javelin Boys draws on the memories of aircrew and engineers alike to present a masterful assembly of facts and anecdotes...an enthralling read that i thoroughly recommend."

Vol. 69 Royal Airforce History