Dropping Britain's First H-Bomb: The Story of Operation Grapple 1957/58

Barnsley: Pen & Sword Aviation, 2008. Hardcover. Fine/very good +. A highly detailed account of 'Operation Grapple' - Britain's series of test drops of her new H-Bomb, code-named Blue Danube, on two bomb ranges in the Pacific. The author dropped the first of these weapons, from a Valiant jet-bomber, on 15 May 1957. More tests were to follow, and this is the full story of how these top-secret experiments were carried out. Though primarily concerned with RAF operations, the author gives a good overall impression of what it was like to live and work in difficult conditions, under extreme security measures. Packed with technical details and illustrations of the aircraft used for the drops, and the many modifications that had to be carried out to prepare them. A fascinating volume of early Cold War history. Contains 196 pages, 24 x 17.5cm, and illustrated throughout with b&w photos plus maps and technical drawings. Black cloth boards in Very Good+ illustrated dust jacket. Internally, Fine: clean, bright and unmarked in excellent bindings. Looks, feels and smells like new.