Military Model Scene

Title: Danger Zone
Author: Kevin Wright
Publisher: Helion & Co
ISBN: 978-1-804510-25-4

US Clandestine Reconnaissance Operations along the West Berlin Air Corridors, 1945-1990, number 30 in the Europe @ War series from Helion & Co. An 80-page soft-cover book.
Not attracting what I'd describe as the 'glamour' of the tales of the likes of the U-2 and SR-71 intelligence gathering missions of the Cold War era, this book covers the less well appreciated and yet long term intelligence gathering which took place thanks to the post-war arrangements for the division of control over the German capital, Berlin. The city itself was deep within that became East Germany, and was divided into US, British, French and Soviet control zones. To go with this there were 3 designated air corridors between West Germany and the city of Berlin itself. The book gives some fantastic detail of the continuous work of intelligence gathering that went on between 1945 and the eventual re-unification of Germany in 1990. A large part of the work by US forces relied on the large number of transport aircraft that regularly carried cargo in and out of the city. From the use of the C-47 and C-54 in the period immediately following the war, through the operational life of the much larger Boeing C-97 and over the final years, the C-130, and the specialist C-130E in particular. Hidden among these cargo flights were others, using these same aircraft types looking very much like the 'regular' cargo flights, but with hidden crews and equipment which gathered intelligence such as electronic and signals surveillance as well as using specialist cameras for photo surveillance. The story is illustrated with lots of personal account from veterans who took part in these missions, along with archive photographs and the usual section of very good maps and colour artwork which will appeal to aviation modellers.
With Soviet Forces stationed within East Germany, they made use of barracks, airfields and facilities that were left largely from WW2, as it was beyond their financial resources to build new ones. Hence the Western powers knew the sites to keep watch over. Lots of material was gathered over many years, and with little complaint from the Soviet side. I myself can recall seeing a batch of photos that I know were taken by the British flight of a Chipmunk aircraft over Berlin, and no doubt the French did the same, as would the Soviets themselves in looking at us. As someone who lived through the Cold War I found this a thoroughly interesting read. I am sure that many younger readers, too young to remember those days, this could be difficult to understand, but the whole story of Berlin in the Cold War makes for a really interesting study.
Thanks to Helion & Co for the review copy.

Robin