The Jet Age Series: JAVELIN BOYS Air Defence from the Cold War to Confrontation

The Jet Age Series: Stories from the Pilots Who Flew the Legends

The Jet Age Series goes beyond the aircraft, focusing on the pilots and crews who flew them. Books like Harrier Boys, Phantom Boys, and Tornado Boys bring to life the adrenaline-fueled world of military aviation, with firsthand stories of combat missions, Cold War tensions, and life in the cockpit. Perfect for aviation enthusiasts, military historians, and those fascinated by the men behind the machines.

With an unorthodox aerodynamic design, the Javelin initially had major production issues, which included a tendency for engines to self-destruct under certain conditions. Despite this and the criticism it faced – its nicknames included ‘Flying Flat-Iron’ and ‘Harmonious Dragmaster’ – the aircraft still receives much affection from its former aircrew.
Starting from the first deliveries of Javelins in 1956 until the final withdrawal from RAF squadron use in 1968, Javelin Boys describes adventures in Cyprus, Singapore during the Indonesian Confrontation and Zambia during the Rhodesian declaration of UDI. In this period a total of 434 Javelins were built, with their use spanning across eighteen different squadrons.
Steve Bond has interviewed a number of veterans, all with captivating tales of their time on the aircraft. Alongside their anecdotes is a detailed history of this unusual aircraft, accompanied by photography.