Robinson, Robbie M. NATO Recce 1950-1965

Immediately following the Second World War, Western European nations organized themselves along the line of the future "Iron Curtain" and quickly began to probe the strength of their new adversary. Their air forces initially received surplus equipment, followed later by fighter and bomber aircraft that had been specially modified for the mapping and identification of enemy forces. The RF-80 Shooting Star, RT-33 Thunderbird, F-84E/G Thunderjet, F2H-2P Banshee, RB-45 Tornado, RB-66 Destroyer, RB-26 Invader, RF-84F Thunderflash, Canberra PR3/7, RF-8 Crusader, Mirage IIIR, and Étendard IV P types formed the photographic spearhead of the Alliance. This book presents NATOs tactical reconnaissance unitsas well as the aircraft they operated between 1950 and 1965supplemented by approximately one hundred previously unpublished color illustrations by the author. It covers a rare subject, treated in such detail and in this format for the very first time.