Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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.

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.