Fast Jets on the Front Line: Flying Phantoms, Javelins and Tornados in the Cold War

“Though author Alan Munro was thankfully never fired upon by enemy forces, his personal experience sheds light on the real people who had to stand ready to scramble during the most tense periods of the Cold War.” – Cold War Book Reviews

In Fast Jets on the Front Line, Alan Munro reflects on his time in the RAF and the Cold War jets which he flew. Having started his career after basic training on the Gloster Javelin with No. 228 OCU, Alan went on to become a flying instructor at No. 1 Flying Training School, Linton-on-Ouse. But with the UK’s withdrawal from East of Suez, he found himself with a ground posting and questioning whether he would see front-line flying again. Luckily for Alan, this wasn’t the case and he was soon posted to Lightnings and Harriers before returning to 228 OCU to fly on Phantoms.

It is Alan’s time on the Phantoms that is the main crux of this book. He discusses how the withdrawal of Lightnings from the air force changed the Phantom’s role from attack to defence and the impact this had on Phantom squadrons like 29 Squadron which he flew on. A move to RAF Germany saw Alan find the front-line action he craved during his ground posting and he joined 19 Squadron as they became operational and part of RAF Germany’s Battle Flight. During his time with RAF Germany, Alan flew with a number of NATO countries and he recounts tales of squadron exchanges. This then led to a tour at the NATO Tactical Leadership Programme in Jever, north Germany before he finished his time in the RAF on the Tornado GR1 in the early 1990s.

His book is illustrated throughout with photographs from the author’s private collection and is a must for fans of the Cold War era fighters.