Undoubtedly one of the world's most recognizable aircraft was the SR-71 'Blackbird'. I say was as this futuristic 1950s design aircraft is now only to be seen in museums. Designed as a replacement for the subsonic U-2, the SR-71 was a development of the CIA's A-12 aircraft that operated in great secrecy during the early/mid 1960s. Able to overfly any 'denied' airspace in the world with impunity, the aircraft was both able to sustain very high mach speeds and had superlative optical equipment as well.

In this book for Osprey, author Crickmore concentrates on the aircraft's European and Middle East operations from both the US and from Mildenhall in England, where it operated as its advanced base for many years.  Because of the areas over which it was flying, there were few if any divert bases in case of trouble so the missions, especially those to the Middle East, were long and arduous.

European flights began in 1976 with the establishment of Det 4 in Mildenhall where it was able to fly along the border between the two Germanys and also into the Baltic and along the northern border of the Soviet Union over the Arctic Sea. Many times Soviet interceptors tried to catch them, but except in a few cases, little was seen of these fast aircraft outside of a blip on a radar screen.

What makes this particular book such a great read is the depth of information provided on operations of the time. The accounts of the pilots and others involved (including those of pilots sent up to try and intercept the Blackbird) adds much to making this such a fascinating book. Add to that the great choice of photos and several pages of well drawn profiles and you have a book that I know you will enjoy.

January 2010

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