From a Ravens Perch: A Bird's View of Cold War reconnaissance

The author served on an aerial reconnaissance crew in the Strategic Air Command from 1963 through 1970. Their missions, known colloquially as “ferret” sorties, were flown around the periphery of the Communist Block countries. The early part of the period the author discusses was in the years immediately following the Cuban Missile Crisis, a time of heightened tension between the Soviet Union and the United States. Their missions were frequently routine in nature, often interesting but occasionally tragic. This is the story of life as a reconnaissance air crew member during that period. It includes descriptions of broader policy perspectives as well as anecdotal incidents. The book targets those with an interest in military affairs but is detailed enough that those with little background in military affairs might be able to put themselves in the shoes of a reconnaissance crew member in the time period. A Raven, in this context, is an Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO). EWOs were the eyes and ears that justified placing a military aircraft and its crew in harm’s way.