From acclaimed aviation historian Michael Napier, this is a highly illustrated survey of the aerial fighting in the flashpoints of the Cold War. The Cold War years were a period of unprecedented peace in Europe, yet they also saw a number of localised but nonetheless very intense wars throughout the wider world in which air power played a vital role. Flashpoints describes eight of these Cold War conflicts: the Suez Crisis of 1956, the Congo Crisis of 1960-65, the Indo-Pakistan Wars of 1965 and 1971, the Arab-Israeli Wars of 1967 and 1973, the Falklands War of 1982 and the Iran-Iraq War of 1980-88. In all of them both sides had a credible air force equipped with modern types, and air power shaped the final outcome. Acclaimed aviation historian Michael Napier details the wide range of aircraft types used and the development of tactics over the period. The postwar years saw a revolution in aviation technology and design, particularly in the fields of missile development and electronic warfare, and these conflicts saw some of the most modern technology that the NATO and Warsaw Pact forces deployed, alongside some relatively obscure aircraft types such as the Westland Wyvern and the Folland Gnat. Highly illustrated, with over 240 images and maps, Flashpoints is an authoritative account of the most important air wars of the Cold War.

From acclaimed aviation historian Michael Napier, this is a highly illustrated survey of the aerial fighting in the flashpoints of the Cold War.

About the Author
Michael Napier is an experienced author with six published titles to his name, including The Royal Air Force - a Centenary of Operations published by Osprey; two more books In Cold War Skies and The Vickers Wellington Squadrons of Bomber Command are also shortly to be published by Osprey. Michael is an ex-RAF Tornado pilot with combat experience over Iraq. He is thorough in his research and, because of his knowledge of air warfare, is highly qualified to write on the subject.

Reviews
Covering the Suez Crisis, the Congo crisis, the two Indo-Pakistan wars, the Arab-Israeli wars, the Falklands war and the Iran-Iraq war, the book casts a wide net and offers superbly researched and very detailed accounts -- Susan Wilson * Army Rumour Service *
A readable compendium with much interest to Britain at War readers. -- Andrew Thomas * Britain at War *



Book Information
ISBN 9781472853578
Author Michael Napier
Format Hardback
Page Count 368
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC