The Gloster Javelin was the UK's first line of night and all-weather air
defense both at home and in RAF Germany. In the 1950s, when it replaced
the Meteor and Venom, this revolutionary bomber interceptor became
integral to many great stories told here in terrific detail. With an
unorthodox aerodynamic design, the Javelin initially had major
production issues, which included a tendency for engines to
self-destruct under certain conditions. Despite this and the criticism
it faced - its nicknames included 'Flying Flat-Iron' and 'Harmonious
Dragmaster' - the aircraft still receives much affection from its former
aircrew. Starting from the first deliveries of Javelins in 1956 until
the final withdrawal from RAF squadron use in 1968, Javelin Boys
describes adventures in Cyprus, Singapore during the Indonesian
Confrontation and Zambia during the Rhodesian declaration of UDI. In
this period a total of 434 Javelins were built, with their use spanning
across eighteen different squadrons. Steve Bond has interviewed a number
of veterans, all with captivating tales of their time on the aircraft.
Alongside their anecdotes is a detailed history of this unusual
aircraft, accompanied by photography. This book is bound to appeal to
all aviation fans.
