Best of Breed: The Hunter in Fighter Reconnaissance

This book is about the tactical reconnaissance mark of the Hunter FR10 and its front line operation between 1961-70. With the Hunter already well proven in ground attack role this variant was an ideal platform for the excellent Vinten F95 strip aperture cameras. The heavy armament of four 30-mm Aden cannon was retained for use in defence suppression and target marking, unilateral action against high value targets (assigned or opportunity) and if necessary in self-defence. It follows that the pilots selected for this demanding operating regime had to show an ability to operate alone over long distances using basic pilot navigation techniques only at high speeds and ultra low levels; in the main, therefore, they were second or third tour fast jet pilots. AUTHOR: Walpole has extensive experience on Swift FR5, RF-101 and Hunter FR10 units as a squadron commander at the OCU and latterly as a chief battle manager responsible for tasking offensive assets in exercises and war, His previous P&S book Swift Justice and his forthcoming Voodoo Warriors are also based largely upon personal experience. 16 colour and 500 b/w illustrations