Cold War Warriors tells the little-known story of the operations by the Royal Australian Air Force’s P-3 Orions during the latter years of the Cold War. The aircraft’s largely low-profile missions, usually flown far from their base, were often shrouded by confidentiality. Now, access to declassified documents has allowed this story to be told. From the lead-up to their delivery in 1968, to the end of the Cold War in 1991; from the intrigues associated with the procurement of the aircraft and subsequent upgrades, to perilous moments experienced by the aircraft and their crews while conducting operations; and from triumphs to tragedies; Cold War Warriors documents the P-3’s service in the RAAF in the context of the unfolding domestic and international events that shaped the aircraft’s evolving missions. As well as being a story of the RAAF Orions and their growing capabilities, Cold War Warriors is also the story of the crews who flew the aircraft. Using their words, Cold War Warriors faithfully describes a number of incidents, both on the ground, and in the air, to provide a sense of the enormous breadth of service the P-3 Orion has provided to the Royal Australian Air Force, to Australia and to our allies.
Reviewer: Adrian Catt, March 2023 –
Sourced from detailed unit histories, government records, pilot logs, and as told by the men who flew, crewed, and maintained the ubiquitous P-3’s, this comprehensive book exposes everything you could possibly want to know about the development, service and personnel associated with the P-3 Orions during the Cold War era.
RUSI: Adrian Catt, March 2023 –
Covering parliamentary reporting, plagues of engine problems, and endless on-board electrical fires, we also learn of ‘cat-and-mouse’ intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) sorties against a persistent Soviet presence in both the Indian and Southern Oceans
The RUSI – Vic Library Adrian Catt –
this outstanding reference book details the development, selection and introduction into RAAF service of Lockheed P-3 Orion Long-Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft (LRMPA); replacing a fleet of ancient, cumbersome and agricultural Lincoln and Neptune aircraft with a platform which was faster, sophisticated, contemporary, and capable of evolving its technology to keep meeting Australia’s Defence, Coast watch and search and rescue (SAR) needs, across P-3B, P-3C and AP3-C versions for nearly 50 Yea