B-52 Stratofortress Units in Operation Desert Storm Book Review
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | November 2004 | Title | B-52 Stratofortress Units in Operation Desert Storm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Jon Lake | Publisher | Osprey Publishing |
| Published | 2004 | ISBN | 1-84176-751-4 |
| Format | 96 pages, softbound | MSRP (USD) | $19.95 |
Review
This title examines the role of the B-52 in Operation Desert Storm. When preparations for war started in earnest during Desert Shield, B-52s were quickly prepared for their part in combat operations. By the time the Desert Storm was concluded, the B-52 only accounted for about three percent of all sorties flown, though the B-52 delivered about one third of all weapons on target.
The author has collected quite a few first-hand accounts from Buff (Big Ugly Fat 'Fella') crews as they pressed the former cold warrior back into conventional warfare, something not done in any scope since Vietnam. The narrative puts the reader into context with how the 'conventional' B-52G differed in operations from its 'nuclear' brother, the B-52H. Coverage and perspective is also given to flight operations from a variety of deployment locations including Diego Garcia, Moron, RAF Fairford, and from Saudi Arabia.
The coverage of B-52 operations is broken down in the table of contents as:
- Back to War
- The G-Model
- Prelude to Desert Storm
- Fire From The Island
- 1708th BW(P)'s War
- Moron & Fairford
- B-52H in Desert Storm
- Conclusions
In addition to the operational summaries, the book is also has a nice selection of color profiles, color noseart photography, line drawings, as well as loads of color and B&W coverage of the action.
This book is a must have for the modeler and aviation historian interested in contemporary air operations, especially involving an aircraft that was over 50 years old during Desert Storm! Recommended!
My sincere thanks to Motorbooks International for this review sample!