Blackburn Buccaneer
By Matt Bittner
Author: Nico Braas
Publisher: Lanasta
ISBN #: 978-90-8616-168-3
Binding: Softcover
Pages: 48
The Buccaneer came about after a requirement for a low-level strike aircraft. It joined the Royal Navy in 1962 and was retired in 1994. About mid-way into its life the Royal Navy decided it no longer wanted the aircraft but the Royal Air Force was looking for an interim strike aircraft so took them over from the Royal Navy.
The latest in Lanasta's Warplane series is an excellent high-level overview on the Blackburn Buccaneer. The book starts with a short synopsis on the history of Blackburn before delving into the Buccaneer (Bucc). The book then goes into the prototypes and continues along the production line from beginning to end, including its role with the South African Air Force.
Once the Royal Navy was finished with her, she was then brought on board by the Royal Air Force. It was with the RAF the Bucc actually saw combat first with Operation Pulsator and then, on a larger scale, with Desert Storm. It was serving during Desert Storm when the Bucc became iconic. First with its kept-dirty "desert pink" paint scheme, and then finally with the unique and exceptional nose-art flown on most of the aircraft, twelve Buccs participating in Desert Storm.
The book ends with a showcase on Museum pieces and a list of all accidents and incidents that happened to the Bucc.
While not a highly-detailed book for modeling, none-the-less this Warplane book by Lanasta is an excellent high-level overview and has some stunning photographs of the Buccaneer. I definitely recommend it.
My thanks to Lanasta for providing the review copy.