Military Model Scene

Title: The F-100 Units of USAFE
Author: Doug Gordon
Publisher: Fonthill Media
ISBN: 978-1-78155-910-9

The F-100 units, the Super Sabre, based in Europe during the Cold War, the subject of this new book from Fonthill Media. A 191-page hard-cover book, though also available in E-book format.
The book opens with the basic development story of the F-100 Super Sabre, or simply known as the 'Hun'. Built to be an air superiority fighter it grew to have other uses, one of which is perhaps not what first comes to mind when we think of it. With aircrew having to stand 'Victor Alert', a 24/7 alert system where the F-100 stood by, armed with a tactical nuclear weapon in readiness to attack targets in Eastern Europe in the event that the Cold War should turn Hot. As with the rest of the book, there are lots of personal accounts from aircrew telling us how it was to be involved, and does include the different methods of weapons delivery for these 'special' weapons. The units were not only based in the UK, but also in Germany, France, Turkey and even Libya. There are attachments to North Africa where the weather was better for flying than so many parts of Europe, and up to Norway to experience operating in the cold weather found there. Besides the nuclear missions, aircraft also trained on the fighter role, as well as conventional weapons delivery. Air displays and the Skyblazers aerobatic team are all featured, even their attendance at the first NATO Tiger Meet. Add the temporary attachments to Europe for US based units, and other European air forces who operated the F-100 and there is plenty to discover in this book. The main units featured include the 20th Fighter Bomber Wing/Tactical Fighter Wing, 36th Fighter Day Wing/Tactical Fighter Wing, 48th Fighter Bomber Wing/Tactical Fighter Wing, 388th/49th Fighter Bomber Wing/Tactical Fighter Wing, 50th Fighter Bomber Wing/Tactical Fighter Wing, 401st Tactical Fighter Wing, Detachment 1, 7407th Support Squadron, 'Slick Chicks', and the Skyblazers display team.
With all the veterans accounts that are included it gives a fine picture of what it was like to fly and work with the Super Sabre while the type was based in Europe, and there are many archive images spread throughout the book. In addition, there is one 65-page block of colour images, both photos of the aircraft along with the many unit badges. The markings on the bare metal aircraft are very colourful, as it was not until 1965 that they began to carry the camouflage schemes as used in Vietnam. Personally I found it all to be interesting reading, but the detail surrounding their role in nuclear weapons delivery, the Victor Alert role, to be all new to me.
Thanks to Fonthill Media for the review copy.

Robin