Published: 16 June 2020
ISBN: 9781787631595
Imprint: Bantam Press
Format: Trade Paperback
Pages: 512
RRP: $35.00

Categories:

Transport technology

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Harrier 809

Britain's Legendary Jump Jet and the Untold Story of the Falklands War

Rowland White

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'Harrier 809 is a truly insightful study of this iconic British aircraft at war ... A tremendous account, [by] turns exciting, moving and enlightening; Rowland White has crafted yet another brilliant account of aerial warfare.' JOHN NICHOL, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF SPITFIRE

'A military adventure, written with expertise.a tale of initiative,skill and courage, of pushing beyond the rules.' The SpectatorApril 1982. Argentina invades the Falkland Islands.In response, Britain despatches a naval Task Force. Eight thousand miles from home, its fate hinges on just twenty Sea Harriers against the two hundred-strong might of the Argentine Air Force.

The odds against them are overwhelming.The MoD's own estimates suggest that half the Harriers will be lost within a week. Against this background, 809 Naval Air Squadron is reformed, trained and sent south to fight.

Not since WWII had so much been expected of such a small band of pilots.

Combining groundbreaking research with the pace of a thriller, Rowland White reveals the full story of the fleet's knife-edge fight for survival for the first time, and shows how the little jump jet went from airshow novelty to sealing its reputation as an icon of British aviation, alongside the Spitfire and the Hurricane.

'Without the Sea Harrier there could have been no Task Force'Admiral Sir Henry Leach, First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff

Published: 16 June 2020
ISBN: 9781787631595
Imprint: Bantam Press
Format: Trade Paperback
Pages: 512
RRP: $35.00

Categories:

Transport technology

Share…

About the author

Rowland White

Rowland White is the author of four critically acclaimed works of aviation history: Vulcan 607, Phoenix Squadron, Storm Front and Into the Black, as well as a compendium of aviation, The Big Book of Flight. Born and brought up in Cambridge, he studied Modern History at Liverpool University. In 2014 he launched Project Cancelled to produce apparel inspired by the best in aviation, space and other cool stuff. Find it at projectcancelled.com

For more information on Rowland White and his books visit his website at rowlandwhite.com or find him on Twitter at @rowlandwhite

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Praise for Harrier 809

This is utterly brilliant: a fantastically exciting book about those amazing Harrier jets in the Falklands War but so much more besides. White has a richly drawn cast of unforgettable characters ... this really does read like the best kind of thriller. His best book yet.
James Holland

Utterly thrilling and totally absorbing. White conveys brilliantly the spirit of a great aircraft - and the men who flew it
Patrick Bishop

Rowland White has done it again! A compelling, fast-paced narrative that thrusts us into a fascinating cockpit-view of the Falklands War. Harrier 809 provides a true window into a conflict that shaped the modern path of Argentina and the United Kingdom; a "must read" for serious military aviation enthusiasts and historians alike!
Dan Hampton

Rowland White has scored again. Harrier 809 reads like a fast-paced military adventure novel only better because every word is true. White has brought us an up-close, inside-the-cockpit saga of a band of heroes in the Falklands air war. Riveting.
Robert Gandt

Set against the broader context of the Falklands War, Harrier 809 brings the squadron’s story to life in fine and highly readable style.
Garth Ennis

Deeply researched and written with Rowland White's trademark brio, Harrier 809 is the thrilling story of the ‘forgotten' Sea Harrier squadron of the Falklands War, one that arrived late to the party yet played a key role in Britain’s unlikely victory. A superb book.
Saul David