Military Model Scene

Title: U-2 Dragon Lady Units 1955-90
Author: Peter E. Davies
Publisher: Osprey
ISBN: 978-1-4728-6168-9

Number 152 in the Combat Aircraft series from Osprey. A 96-page soft-cover book in the usual style for this series.
The first of the 8 chapters takes us through the original development of the U2 by Lockheed, as well as the rival designs, and the requirements it was built to meet. As well as various technical details of the engine, the design, the cameras it would carry it also sets out the challenges of flying the aircraft, in particular the landings. After a number of losses due to accidents, I was surprised to learn that the first 2-seater, for pilot training, was not built until 1972, when an existing U-2C airframe was converted to a U-2CT. It moves on to overflights of the Soviet Union, operations by both the CIA and the USAF and the first overseas deployments to the UK. There is the threat posed by the new SA-2 missiles and of course the loss of the U-2 piloted by Gary Powers over the Soviet Union and the fuss that caused. Further operations covered Cuba and the famous Missile Crisis and assorted international political controversy. Wider operations are covered in a chapter called Global Reach before getting to detail of 'Black Cats' and the operation of Republic of China (Taiwan) Air Force conducting missions over mainland China, where no less than 5 were shot down over time, and again with CIA involvement. After detail of their work in Vietnam, there were New Variants, as attrition of the original fleet led to a requirement to resume production. This leads to the U-2R, where R= Revised, as a number of modifications were introduced, and which also led to the new designation of TR-1, for Tactical Reconnaissance. This leaves the final chapter to cover the subject of Battlefield Reconnaissance. In the middle of the book are 11 pages of fine colour profiles, which illustrate the appearance of the U-2 over a long service career, and the appendix at the end of the book gives the individual commentaries for each of the 22 colour profiles.
Like the SR-71, the service of these often all-black aircraft have been the subject of much fascination among aircraft enthusiasts, with the secrecy that surrounds them and their missions. Unlike the SR-71 though, the U-2 variants are still very much in regular use. The detail of the development, employment, politics and flying issues of this 'powered glider' is neatly set out in here and I found this a really interesting read, where I learned a lot more detail to my understanding of their use over so many years. Excellent value I felt.
Thanks to Osprey for the review copy.

Robin