The English Electric Lightning was the mainstay of Britian's air defence during the Cold-War. Quick Reaction Alert aircraft were tasked with intercepting Russian aircraft and their high speed and fast rate of climb made them ideal for operation requirement. Illustrated with over 170 photographs, and with appendices listing Lightning squadrons, production totals, and individual aircraft histories, Lightning is a fine record to the last truly great all-British fighter. AUTHOR: Martin W Bowman is a freelance aviation researcher, author and photographer, and has been a regular contributor for many years to Flight International, Wingspan and Aeroplane Monthly in the UK and Air Classics, Air Combat and Air Progress in the United States. His interest in aviation was fired by the proliferation of RAF and USAF bases in his native East Anglia, and he has written over 40 books on civil and military aircraft, including several in the Crowood Aviation Series. 170 b/w photos & colour section