Jaguar Boys

True Tales from Operators of the Big Cat in Peace and War

Ian Hall

• Publisher: Grub Street Publishing
• Year: 2014
• Topic: History
• eBook ISBN:
  9781910690987
• Subtopic: Military & Maritime History
• Index: History

Originally intended as a trainer, the Anglo-French Sepecat jet, equipped with the very latest in weapon-aiming and navigational equipment, eventually became the backbone of the RAF’s tactical strike-attack and recce forces for a decade from the mid-1970s. In these pages, the Jaguar Boys – pilots, engineer and ground crew – tell of the aircraft’s drawbacks and joys, their sadness at losses, and their pleasure at its development into a readily deployable and outstandingly capable fighter-bomber for the post-Cold War era. Then came the Gulf War which signaled the start of a hectic sequence of operational adventures and upgrades for the ‘Boys’ and seasoned veterans tell of action over Iraq and in the Balkans. One of the best-loved of RAF types, the Jaguar commanded a fierce loyalty and affection which shines through in these accounts of an aircraft that will live forever in the memory.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Introduction: The Favourite
• Chapter 1: The First Eleven (Plus Reserves)
• Chapter 2: Early Coltishall Operations
• Chapter 3: The Sharp End
• Chapter 4: So Who Needs An Ocu?
• Chapter 5: Recce Rookies
• Chapter 6: Testing...Testing...
• Chapter 7: The Frozen North
• Chapter 8: Training The Jag Pilots
• Chapter 9: Showing It Off
• Chapter 10: Exchanging Experiences
• Chapter 11: With Friends Like These...
• Chapter 12: Desert Jags
• Chapter 13: Deepest, Darkest Africa
• Chapter 14: Systems (Mis)Management
• Chapter 15: The Old Man Of The Desert
• Chapter 16: A Bloody Navigator
• Chapter 17: The Flying Spanner
• Chapter 18: Brown Amongst The Blue
• Chapter 19: Ops, Ops - And More Ops
• Chapter 20: Upgrading
• Chapter 21: Single-Seat - If Only For A Moment
• Epilogue
• Glossary of Terms
• Index