Andrew Brookes is a military history author and former RAF Commander who completed recce and strike tours on Victors, Canberras and Vulcans (543, 85, 100, 35 and 101 Squadrons). He spent a year studying International Relations as Fellow Commoner at Downing College, Cambridge, before becoming a Group Director at the RAF Advanced Staff College and then co-ordinator of air power studies at the Joint Services Command and Staff College. He is now Aerospace Analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a Liveryman of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a Fellow of the Royal United Services Institute. He is Vice President of No.343 (Camberwell) ATC Squadron. Based in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, Chris Davey has illustrated more than 20 titles for Osprey’s Aircraft of the Aces, Combat Aircraft and Aviation Elite Units series since 1994. He is one of the last traditional airbrush artists in the business and especially skilled at USAAF fighters and RAF subject matter.

• Forging the hammer - development of the VulcanCold War deterrent - high level lay downLong range stand-offLow level sanctuaryColonial adventuresThe Versatile Vulcan (MRR and tanking)Black Buck - the Falklands bombingSEAD missions

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