50 Years of the U-2: The Complete Illustrated History of Lockheeds Legendary Dragon Lady [Hardcover]

Chris Pocock (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2004

When the U-2 first took off in 1955, no one involved in its top-secret project dreamt that this unique reconnaissance aircraft would still be flying today. The long story of the Dragon Lady is amazing, and complex; this book tells it all, in unprecedented

Product Details

• Hardcover: 440 pages
• Publisher: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. (January 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764323466
• ISBN-13: 978-0764323461
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.8 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #208,487 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 50 years of the U-2, November 15, 2005

By 

robert spencer (alabama) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 50 Years of the U-2: The Complete Illustrated History of Lockheeds Legendary Dragon Lady (Hardcover)

I flew the U-2 for six years, logging over 1600 hours in it. Chris Pocock has written an absolutely superb book that covers the U-2 progression from its inception thru its still very much alive career. The author, because of his tenacity and undying interest in the U-2, has collected an archive of the U-2's history and related facts which has enabled him to write a book that is a U-2 encyclopedia. Anyone who has worked with or been associated with the U-2 program, or is interested in gaining in-depth information about one of Kelly Johnson's most famous aircraft, or would like to read first hand accounts of the operation of America's first high altitude recce bird, I would suggest that you get a copy of Chris's book for your reference library. It's a beautiful book.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book Yet Written on the U-2, December 10, 2005

By 

Matthew M. Aid (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 50 Years of the U-2: The Complete Illustrated History of Lockheeds Legendary Dragon Lady (Hardcover)

As someone who writes on intelligence issues, I am rarely impressed with the level of scholarship exhibited in the current generation of books on real-life intelligence issues. A labor of love, Chris Pocock's superb book on the life and times of the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft is by far and away the best book written on the subject. The book is very well researched, with Mr. Pocock's painstaking research taking him into newly declassified CIA intelligence documents as well as the resukts of interviews with dozens of veterans of the U-2 program, including the pilots who flew the missions. The illustrations in this book by themselves make the cost of this hefty book well worth the effort. Whether you are a military buff, a former member of the CIA/USAF/RAF reconnaissance fraternity, or just plain interested in the critically important work performed by this airplane during and after the Cold War, this book is a must read.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book... most complete info on U2, September 21, 2005

By 

S. Chu (Boston, MA United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 50 Years of the U-2: The Complete Illustrated History of Lockheeds Legendary Dragon Lady (Hardcover)

For all U-2 Dragon Lady fans, this IS the book to get. Mr. Pocock is by far the most knowledable person on the subject matter.